When browsing Rolex models online, it is difficult to tell the difference in case sizes based on photos of the watches without a basis for comparison. Those who are more familiar with luxury timepieces will have a better idea of a watch's relative size based on the diameter of the case than someone who is shopping for their first Rolex. In order to give you a better idea of how different models measure up, I have photographed the watchmaker's largest professional stainless steal watch cases side by side to illustrate the differences in their relative sizes.

Rolex Explorer II (42mm), Deepsea (44mm) and Yacht-Master II (44mm)

In the photo above I placed the Explorer II's 42mm case to the left, the Deepsea's 44mm case in the middle and the Yacht-Master II's 44mm case on the right. While they are both 44mm in diameter, the Deepsea's is Rolex's largest case based on its height. The thickness of the case is due in part to the Ringlock case architecture that was developed to increase the Deepsea's depth rating to 3,900 meters. The case of the Yacht-Master II is thicker than that of the Explorer II, which sits the lowest on the wrist.

In the above photo, I placed the Submariner to the right of the Explorer II. As you can see, when compared to the Sub's 40mm case you can better appreciate the size of the 42mm Exp2 case. It is slightly larger and thicker, but not enough to dwarf the Submariner's case like the Deepsea's case does in the photo below. Another thing to keep in mind is that a 40mm case is by no means considered small based on classical standards. In the mid-twentieth century, the average watch case measured between 34mm to 36mm. It is only in the past couple decades that average case sizes have gone up to 39mm-40mm. 

When dealing with a few millimeters of difference between cases, it can be difficult to imagine how big or small one watch case is in comparison to another. However, once you've seen these photos you can understand why many people warn those with smaller wrists to stay away from models like the Deepsea. Ultimately, it is still wise to check them out in person so that you can have an idea of how each one looks on your wrist before making a purchase decision. You may love the aesthetic of a watch with a large case, but it may not work for you from a practical standpoint, so it's best to figure that out before coming to a final purchase decision. 

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Known as the presidents' watch, the Rolex Day-Date (Reference # 228238) is a symbol of success that transcends time and place. Introduced in the 1950s, this model is only available in precious metals and represents the ultimate in prestige and status. The yellow gold configuration, shown below on Justin Timberlake, is met with both reverence and resistance by fans of the brand. However, even though yellow gold has fallen out of favor with some over past decade, they Day-Date model is still a favorite of the superstars of sports, music and fashion. 

Justin Timberlake Wearing a Gold Rolex Day-Date (photo: GQ)

Aside from Justin Timberlake, who wore the gold Day-Date above in his video for Can't Stop the Feeling! earlier this year, there are many celebrities who have been spotted wearing this reference in the past few years. Hollywood power couple Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux have both been photographed wearing gold Day-Dates. Victoria Beckham, Kim Kardashian and Nicki Minaj have also been seen sporting this configuration, proving that the wristwatch model is equally suitable for women's wrists. LeBron James, shown in the photo below, sported a Day-Date II while taking part in the parade in Cleveland after the Cavaliers took home the NBA championship earlier this year.

Lebron James at Cleveland Cavaliers Championship Parade (photo: foxsports.com)

The Day-Date model was the first to feature the President bracelet and an arc-shaped window displaying the day at 12 o'clock. A superlative chronometer, the 40mm version features a 3255 self-winding mechanical movement manufactured by Rolex in-house with a power reserve of 70 hours. It features a fluted bezel and the scratch-resisant sapphire crystal features a Cyclops magnifying lens over the date aperture at 3 o'clock. This model is also available with a 36mm case and a leather strap. The 40mm yellow gold configuration in the photo below (Reference # 228238) retails for 33,200 Swiss francs or approximately $33,459 US. 

Yellow gold watches are not for everyone. I explore this topic in my previous post: Are Yellow Gold Rolex Watches Gaudy? To watch Justin Timberlake's music video for Can't Stop the Feeling! click here. For more information on the Rolex Day-Date, visit rolex.com. 

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A Rolex Arts Testimonee since 2005, Mexican tenor Rolando Villazón has been dazzling audiences with his beautiful voice and masterful stage presence when he appeared on the international opera scene in 1999. He won 3 prizes in his mentor Plácido Domingo's Operalia singing competition and ended up taking second place overall. In the video embedded below, he honors Domingo before performing 'No Puede Ser' to a standing ovation.

Mexican Tenor Rolando Villazón (photo: Monika Rittershaus)

Villazón's singing career got its start in a very interesting way. He was discovered by baritone Arturo Nieto, who heard him singing in the shower in his Mexico City apartment. From there, he went on to compete in Operalia, then made his Metropolitan Opera debut as Alfredo in La Traviata. He has performed in operas by Verdi, Puccini and Mozart to critical acclaim. He appeared at Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna with Plácido Domingo in front of millions of viewers and has also achieved success as a platinum recording artist.

His connection to Domingo has continued throughout his career. In 2007 he recorded an album of zarzuelas conducted by Domingo. His career was sidelined after 2007 due to a cyst in his vocal cords. He underwent surgery in 2009 and returned to the stage in 2010 as Nemorino in L'elisir d'amore at the Vienna State Opera. After that, he performed a series of recitals and later began performing Mozart tenor roles, releasing an album of Mozart concert arias in 2014.

For more information on Rolando Villazón including his performance schedule, videos, audio and more, visit his official website at rolandovillazon.com.

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Whether you own a few of their watches or are shopping for your first, it is likely that you will take to the internet to look for information about Rolex and their wristwatch models. While Google does a good job of bringing relevant websites to the first page of search results, it usually takes some digging to get to the bottom of what information is found where. As someone who has spent many hours conducting my own research online for this website and for personal purchase decisions, I would like to share the most helpful Rolex resources I have found from around the web. 

There are several watch blogs that regularly feature content centered around Rolex watches. Though their editorial content is not limited to Rolex, hodinkee.com and ablogtowatch.com are perhaps the most well known watch blogs on the internet today. Ariel Adams is the editor of A Blog to Watch and a regular contributor to Forbes magazine. Ben Clymer is at the helm at Hodinkee and has contributed to GQ and been featured in the New York Times due to the success of his blog, which is now also a shop offering vintage watches and watch accessories. The Rolex section of fratellowatches.com is also a useful resource for reviews. There are a couple notable blogs that feature content exclusively dedicated to Rolex. Jake's Rolex World at rolexmagazine.com features many interesting vintage photographs of Rolex watches and celebrities wearing them throughout the watchmaker's history. For more technical information including how-to's and watch comparisons, check out minus4plus6.com.

Rolex on Reddit

Reddit, the self-proclaimed front page of the internet, has a couple subreddits that can assist with questions and research about Rolex watches. Their Watches Subreddit has over 98,000 subscribers and features content and resources about all watch brands. In this subreddit, I have come across threads that answer questions about dealer pricing, horology, model comparisons and more. Their FAQ offers insights into what sort of information you can find on their subreddit and also answers questions about watches in general. In addition to /r/Watches, there is a smaller subreddit dedicated exclusively to Rolex, /r/Rolex. This subreddit has less that 2,000 followers, but is friendlier to those who may not be experts about watches and want to discuss Rolex watches exclusively. 

Rolex Books

Mondani is a family-owned Italian publishing company that specializing in books about watches. There is only so much information available on the internet about certain Rolex watches, so if you have searched and still not found answers about your favorite Rolex model, I would recommend purchasing one of their books. They make wonderful coffee table books and provide information that would otherwise only come from experts in horology and Swiss watches. You can check out their entire selection of books at mondanibooks.com. 

Rolex US Contact Information

Should you have any questions about Rolex that you can't find online or in books, you can always call their New York City offices at 212-758-7700 and ask their operator for assistance. They have a department that handles stolen or lost watch reports and they can also questions about replacing bracelets, maintenance, damage, warranty, etc. If you want to send them an inquiry through snail mail, you can address your correspondence to their offices located at 665 5th Ave, New York, NY 10022 in Manhattan. I have never sent them a letter, but I have read that the company is responsive to customer inquiries.

If there is an online Rolex resource that I have left out, please feel free to e-mail me at rolexchronicle@gmail.com and let me know. I  would love to make this list as comprehensive as possible so that readers need to look no further for Rolex related content on the web.

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Nothing provokes the ire of die hard Rolex fans more than the customized Rolex watches popularized by Bamford Watch Department. The bespoke luxury timepieces offered by Bamford and other customization companies are often panned in forums and seen as an assault on the brand and its design aesthetic by purists. The polarizing effect of these watches have on people is similar to the effect that street art had on the art world a decade ago, before it was embraced by the masses and featured during international art events like Art Basel. While many will always object to the practice based on principle, customizing luxury watches requires a combination of manufacturing know-how, creativity and confidence. What results are truly unique timepieces for those with deep pockets and a sense of individuality that is not satisfied by mass-produced luxury wristwatches. 

Bamford Watch Department (photo: bamfordwatchdepartment.com)

Aside from the ideological arguments against bespoke Rolex watches that are rooted in admiration for the watchmaker, there are other reasons people thumb their noses at them. One of the most common is the fact that, according to the Legal Notices page on rolex.com, any modifications or substitution of parts will result in an automatic cancelation of the manufacturer's warranty on a Rolex watch. It goes on to state that these modifications are harmful to the integrity of the piece - a sentiment often echoed by BWD's critics. Bamford addresses this issue in the FAQ section of their website, offering a 5 year warranty on their watches that supersedes any manufacturing warranty. The FAQ also answers another question many people have about the company: will they customize a watch that you already own? (The answer is no, they supply the watches.)

The other issue people have with customized Rolex watches is resale value. Swiss made luxury timepieces tend to retain their value and some rare vintage models even increase in value over time. However, when it comes to the recent trend of customizing these watches, there isn't a precedent for valuing them over time, leaving many to assume they are worthless on the secondary market. The markup for the customization seems like an insurmountable hurdle for the watch to gain anymore value and the market is much smaller for a customized luxury watch than for a more common and coveted model like the ceramic Daytona, for example. This issue would bother someone who flips their watches for different models over the years, but generally speaking, watches shouldn't be considered an investment in the first place. Someone who is willing to pay the premium for a customized watch should look at it in an investment in their wrist game, not their financial portfolio.

Submariner CS08: Desert from Bamford's Commando Range (photo: bamfordwatchdepartment.com)

In addition to offering bespoke designs to individual clients, Bamford also has a few collections of modified Rolex designs, including their Commando range, which features military-style designs in desert, combat and forrest color schemes. The Submariner shown in the photo above is a desert Commando design. The Graphite Particle Coating used is guaranteed for life and advertised as a protective coating, free from scratching and fading over time. In addition to the Commando line, they also offer models coated with all black and all white. In their Heritage range, they offer Daytonas with colorful dials and collaborations that include dials featuring Popeye, Snoopy, planes, cars and more. They also teamed up with Feld & Volk to create a range of Rolexes with carbon fiber dials.

It is the newest addition to their Heritage range, the Bamford Heritage MilSub, that had watch collectors fired up in watch forums and subreddits this week. A highly sought after military issued Submariner, the MilSub fetches over $100,000 US at auction. Hodinkee covered the release of Bamford's Heritage MilSub, designed to resemble the vintage classic with a price tag just under $20,000 US, much to the chagrin of some commenters, who needed to be reminded by moderators about their zero tolerance for trolling policy.

Bamford Heritage MilSub (photo: bamfordwatchdepartment.com)

While the debate about customized luxury watches will go on for years to come, it should be noted that the market for these pieces has grown since Bamford Watch Department opened its doors. There are now several companies that offer similar customized timepieces, including Project X and Titan Black. Engraved Rolex watches are also gaining popularity, with companies like MadeWorn and Huckleberry Ltd offering Rolexes hand-engraved with old world style motifs. Customization will never be for everybody, as the practice caters to wealthy people with a large budget for watches and a strong sense of person style. However, it does offer a fresh design perspective in the luxury watch industry that is guided by individualism and creativity and for that innovative companies like Bamford Watch Department deserve credit. For more information on Bamford, including where to find their watches around the world, visit bamfordwatchdepartment.com.

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There is not a large difference in price between these two models, which makes the purchase decision come down to personal style and functionality. Many like the larger case and highly legible display of the Explorer II, however, a 42mm case may appear too large on smaller wrists. The Cerachrom bezel of the Submariner Date is a selling point for that model, but unless you're planning a deep sea dive in the near future, its functionality may not be as useful as a 24-hour hand and bezel. Both are great stainless steel professional watches and they will retain their value and hold up nicely due to the materials used, so the choice ultimately comes down which looks and feels better on your wrist. 

For more information on either of these models, check out the Rolex Shopping Guide page of this blog or visit Rolex's official website at rolex.com. 

Pricing and negotiation is a common topic in Rolex forums, with many wondering if they can find their favorite Rolex model for cheaper than the going rate. While there are exceptions to every rule, the general rule is that Rolex discourages any discounts given to customers at their Authorized Dealers. When it comes to their popular stainless steel professional models, it is highly unlikely that you will pay anything below the retail price. For some, like the new ceramic Daytona (Reference #116500LN), you may even have to pay a premium above the going rate due to the demand and long waiting list for it. 

However, when it comes to precious metal configurations with higher price tags, there may be room to negotiate. Every individual has a different experience with different dealers around the world and it ultimately comes down to your relationship with them. If you have bought several luxury timepieces from a dealer in the past and have maintained a rapport with the owner or salesperson, you may have more leverage than someone walking in off the street. For those looking for discounts on their first luxury timepiece, I would recommend looking for preowned or vintage models. There are forums and websites, like watchrecon.com, that list trusted dealers and prices for you to comparison shop before making your purchase. 

It is a slippery slope when looking for luxury watches on the cheap. I have encountered many stories from even the most experienced Rolex watch owners about getting ripped off by shady sellers on Craigslist. As they say, if the price is too good to be true, it probably is. In the Classifieds section of The Rolex Forum, they have a list of trusted dealers that are recommended by members. This would be a safe way to shop for a discounted preowned Rolex online. However, chances are you will not be able to try on the watch before purchasing, which is a problem for many (myself included). I would also advise caution when buy from sellers on e-Bay, as some have ordered a watch based on a model number and photo they saw on the site only to be shipped a slightly different model. 

There will always be those who claim to have received deep discounts for new luxury timepieces, but if their claims are true (I would ask to see the receipts) they represent a very small percentage of Rolex owners. The majority of people pay full price for most new models or spend time doing research and comparison shopping for preowned or vintage models online. To find a Rolex Authorized Dealer in your area to begin your search, visit rolex.com. 

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In the past few decades, fashion trends have made white gold jewelry and watches more popular than their yellow gold counterparts as far as precious metal configurations go. This has prompted many to refer to yellow gold wristwatches as gaudy in comparison. However, it is interesting to note that yellow gold Rolex configurations are actually priced lower than white gold configurations, making those who refer to them as gaudy seem misinformed. After all, the term gaudy denotes extravagance, so it would make more sense to refer to platinum or white gold configurations as such based on the empirical evidence. 

At their in-house gemology department located in their Chêne-Bourg site in Geneva, Switzerland, Rolex has a team of highly skilled gem-setters that choose and set only the highest quality diamonds and gems onto their diamond wristwatch models. They pay special attention to the cut, color and and clarity of their diamonds and make sure that they are set properly by employing top notch setters who use machinery usually only found in gemology laboratories. 

Diamond Rolex Models (photo: Rolex)

While you can find several examples of Rolex watches with after-market diamonds on the Instagram feeds of celebrities and jewelers who offer customized Rolexes, there are only a few diamond model configurations that you can buy directly from the watchmaker. The men's and women's models they offer with diamonds are all precious metal configurations. Some feature diamond bezels, others diamond hour markers or diamonds on the bracelet - and some, like the diamond Pearlmaster 39 feature all three.

In addition to Pearlmaster models, Rolex offers the Lady-Datejust with diamonds set on the bezel and/or hour markers. For men, the watchmaker offers their Oyster Perpetual Date 34, Day-Date, Datejust and Datejust II models with diamonds on either the bezel or hour markers or both. They also offer Cellini models with diamonds. Naturally, pricing for these models is higher than models without precious stones. A platinum Rolex Day-Date with diamonds on the bezel and hour markers will run you 110,300 Swiss francs as opposed to 59,600 Swiss francs for the non-diamond platinum configuration.

There are jewelers who offer Rolex models with after-market diamonds set on their dials, cases and bracelets. However, while they are flashy and popular amongst athletes and celebrities, they come at a price. If your Rolex wristwatch has any after-market customizations, the watchmaker will not service the timepiece. So, if you are considering a custom diamond Rolex, I would recommend asking about servicing and warranty before making the purchase.

To browse Rolex's selection of diamond models, visit rolex.com and select the diamond option in their guided search. I wrote a post about their precious stones that includes information on gem-setting and selection here for anyone interested in additional information about their in-house gemology department.

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Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra New Years Concert (photo: Jun Keller)

One of the worlds foremost institutions of classical music, Rolex has been the exclusive partner of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra since 2008 and exclusive sponsor of their New Years Concert since 2009. The Orchestra was founded in 1842 and is considered one of the finest orchestras in the world.

The New Years Concert has been been performed for over 70 years on the morning of January first every year, usually showcasing the music of Johann Strauss. It is broadcast live from Vienna's Musikverein to over 90 countries. The video below shows the 2016 celebration conducted by Grammy Award winner Mariss Jansons.

Another event presented by the Vienna Philharmonic is the Summer Night Concert, usually held in the months of May or June with 100,000 people gathering in the Palace and Gardens of Schonbrunn. The open air performance as been sponsored by Rolex since 2009. For more information on the Vienna Philharmonic including performances on DVD, historical information and schedule, visit http://www.wienerphilharmoniker.at/en.

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Rolex introduced the Syloxi Hairspring for their ladies models in 2014. The hairspring and balance wheel, shown in the photo below, help regulate the oscillations of the movement. The hairspring must be resistant to shocks, spikes in temperature and magnetism to ensure the precision of the timepiece. 

Rolex's Syloxi Hairspring (photo: Rolex/Christophe Lauffenburger)

The use of silicon for the hairspring is a patented innovation that substantially improves the performance of the oscillator as compared to traditional ferromagnetic hairsprings. The patent itself covers the unique characteristics of this hairspring. The silicon and silicon oxide composite used is the first part of the patent. The geometry that optimizes the isochronism and its chronometric regularity is also part of it. There is also a patent for the way that Rolex fixes the end of the hairspring to the balance staff and the balance bridge, enhancing its flatness and concentricity. 

Rolex utilizes a high-precision manufacturing process known as deep reactive ion etching (DRIE) to make the Syloxi Hairspring. It was introduced in their 2236 movement, manufactured in-house by the watchmaker for their women's watches. This increases its power reserve to approximately 55 hours. 

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Rolex's Awards for Enterprise is an international philanthropic program that honors 10 Laureates for advancing human knowledge in the areas of science, health, technology, exploration, discovery, environment and cultural heritage. The last awards ceremony took place in London in November of 2014 and the jury for the 2016 awards, to be held in Los Angeles in November of 2016, was announced earlier this year. 

For more information on Rolex's Award for Enterprise 2016 visit rolexawards.com. 

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Welsh opera singer Bryn Terfel is a world renowned bass-baritone. The Guildhall School of Music and Drama graduate won the Lieder Prize in the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World Competition in 1989. He has since won Grammy and Brit Awards for his performances that include the title role in Sweeny Todd and operas by Mozart, Strauss, Puccini and Wagner. 

Rolex Testimonee Bryn Terfel (photo: Fadil Berisha)

Terfel made his operatic debut in 1990 as Guglielmo in Mozart's Così fan tutte at the Welsh National Opera. He made his debut at the Royal Opera House in London as Masetto in Don Giovanni in 1992. He made his debuts at Milan's Teatro alla Scala and New York's Metropolitan Opera as Figaro in Mozart's Le nozze di Figaro in the 1990s. From the 1990s to the early 2000's he released several musical recordings in addition to his operas and concerts.

Terfel has been a Rolex testimonee since 2007. He is photographed above wearing a Rolex Day-Date.  In the video below he performs Non piu andrai, an aria from Mozart's Le nozze di Figaro. For more information on Bryn Terfel, visit his artist page on harlequin-agency.co.uk.

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Rolex Deepsea with D-Blue Dial (photo: Rolex)

Rolex currently offers two of its professional watch models with 44mm cases - the Deepsea and the Yacht-Master II. While their cases have the same diameter, the Deepsea is the larger case, with a thickness of 17.7 mm due in part of its Ringlock System case architecture. I posted a photo of the Deepsea's case next to the YM2 case in my model comparison post to show the difference in case thickness.

Rolex Deepsea Challenge Experimental Watch (photo: Rolex)

In 2012, Rolex created an experimental Deepsea model called the Rolex Deepsea Challenge that went down to the bottom of the ocean on James Cameron's Deepsea Challenger. While this watch was never made available for purchase, it featured a case size of 51.4 mm diameter with a thickness of 17.7 mm. It had a depth rating of 12,000 meters and a domed synthetic sapphire crystal that was 14.3 mm thick.

In short, the Deepsea Challenger is technically the Rolex with the largest case, however, the Rolex with the largest case on the market is the Deepsea. The Yacht-Master II comes next followed by the 42mm cases of the Explorer II and Sky-Dweller models.

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While purists wince at the idea of customizing a Rolex timepiece, there are many companies around the world that offer Rolex customization. Any aftermarket customizations void the warranty that the watchmaker offers, but most of the reputable watch customization companies offer their customers their own warranties for the watches they customize. This means that the sky is the limit for anyone willing to pay a premium for a truly one of a kind timepiece. 

There are as many opinions about how often to service your Rolex watches as there are opinions about the watches themselves. While experiences vary and every watch is different, Rolex recommends that their timepieces receive service at least every five years. The servicing itself takes about a month and includes several tests to make sure that the timepiece is functioning optimally. 

When To Service Your Rolex (photo: Rolex/Jean-Daniel Mayer)

When you drop off your watch for a service, it is initially inspected to assess any damage that would require additional repairs beyond the standard servicing. Damage to the crystal, dial or major components of the movement like the balance wheel or crystals would require repairs beyond the scope of a standard service. The servicing does cover the replacement of smaller parts of the movement like wheels, cogs and springs, though.

The actual servicing entails disassembling the entire movement, washing and lubricating the parts, replacing the waterproof seals and putting the movement back together again. The case and bracelet are polished and once the watch is put back together it undergoes several tests before going back to the client. The power reserve is tested followed by waterproof pressure testing to make sure that the case has no leaks that would break the seal of the case. The precision of the watch is also tested on a machine that simulates the movement of the watch on the wrist for a few days, allowing the watchmaker to make sure that the watch isn't losing time.

The reason it is important to get servicing done every few years is that the replacement of the lubricants and cleaning of the parts increases the longevity of the timepiece and keeps the parts from drying up and corroding over time. For more information on servicing your Rolex visit rolex.com to find a service center near you.

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