From colorful bezels and bold dials to impressive functions and resilient metal finishes, the reasons to choose a Rolex sports watch are endless. Picking just one can seem like a pretty daunting task with so many notable options on the market. Below are three of our favorite modern references and the reasons why we think they’re so exceptional.
The Hulk
The Rolex from the Submariner collection is one to have in any watch collection. Let’s start with the Submariner ref. 116610LV, a timepiece worthy of being at the top of our list. The “Hulk”, as many collectors lovingly refer to it, features a metallic maxi dial and ceramic bezel in Rolex’s trademark green. A far cry from the Submariner’s traditional black dial and bezel, the green Submariner is a true collector’s item, and that’s exactly why we love it. Chances are, you don’t already have a Rolex in your collection with both a green dial and a green bezel. While the traditional black dial and bezel Submariner is favored among many collectors for its classic and versatile style, the ref. 116610LV showcases a different level of complexity that many Rolex aficionados can appreciate. The process of producing the green ceramic bezel is much more complicated than that of the black bezel as the lighter hue is more difficult to perfect, but the result is more than worth the extra effort. When paired with a host of modern amenities, including Oystersteel, an Oysterlock clasp with a tool-free Glidelock system, and a maxi dial with a larger Chromalight display, the men’s Rolex Submariner Date reference 116610LV is a watch worth considering for your next Rolex purchase.
The Daytona reference 116500
The Rolex Cosmograph Daytona ref. 116500 has been on the market for a pretty short amount of time, debuting at Baselworld 2016. To the delight of many avid collectors, this modern addition opted for a traditional stainless steel finish and a calibre 4130 perpetual movement, made entirely in-house. What makes this particular racing watch so exceptional is the small upgrades made to the bezel and dial that go virtually unnoticed by novice collectors. First, the ceramic bezel boasts new configurations of the numerals that accompany the bezel. Instead of positioning the graduations to line up with each hour marker, they now circle the outer edge of the bezel. This small change vastly improves the overall aesthetics of the Daytona watch. The dial also boasts a few slight changes including the name “Daytona” inscribed in red font and additional text just below the 12-hour marker.
The Batman
The GMT Master II reference 116710BLNR also makes our list. Similar to the Hulk, this newer addition to the GMT line boasts a colorful ceramic bezel, which we as we explained above, is a difficult feature to produce. What’s more, is the Batman offers a two-tone black and blue bezel that blends the two colors effortlessly. This process alone commands a premium over the non-color bezel GMT Master II 116710 but is, in our opinion, worth the higher price tag just for the additional craftsmanship involved. But enough about the bezel, let’s take a closer look at the rest of the men’s GMT Master II. As a modern reference, the Rolex Batman boasts a substantial presence on the wrist via a 40mm Oyster case with broad lugs and a maxi dial topped with larger markers and wider hands. While the case is certainly impressive on the wrist, a three-link Oyster bracelet crafted from Rolex’s proprietary Oystersteel offers the perfect balance via tapered lugs and solid end links. From the striking two-tone bezel to the robust fit of the Rolex “Super Case”, the GMT Master II ref. 116710BLNR is worthy of our top three.
