Best Rolex for Daily Wear

Generally speaking, if someone is looking to purchase a luxury timepiece, they mean to wear it often. Some work environments are more appropriate for a Rolex than others, but the idea is usually to wear the watch every day. On forums, enthusiasts refer to timepieces meant to be worn on a daily basis as 'daily beaters' or simply as 'beaters' due to the figurative beating they receive after daily wear. Some feel that the moniker is demeaning to the brand, but it is usually just meant to differentiate between an everyday watch and a 'grail' watch, which holds more value and takes longer to acquire than other timepieces.  

Stainless Steel Rolex Submariner Date, GMT-Master II, Yacht-Master II, Explorer II and Deepsea Models

When purchasing a watch to be worn on a daily basis, the first logical factor to consider would be your work environment. If you have a career that keeps you active and/or outdoors, that should be taken into consideration. In that case, I would recommend a stainless steel watch from Rolex's professional series. The photo above shows a line up of their most well-known stainless steel configurations, including the popular Submariner and GMT-Master II models. Each has its own unique legacy with functionalities that range from regatta timers to 24-hour hands. Some are larger than others, so the size of your wrist in relation to the height and diameter of the case is another factor to consider when looking at these models. For more information on case sizes, check out my Rolex case size comparison entry here.

If you dress in a suit every day, a stainless steel tool watch may not be as appropriate for your work environment. In this case, you may want to consider a dress watch. You can find my blog on the best Rolex to wear with a suit here. Most gentlemen's blogs suggest a watch with a leather strap and a low profile case to wear with a suit. Rolex has a couple of dress watches available on leather straps, including the classic Day-Date model that features their Oyster case. Their Cellini line comes on leather as well. The Cellini Time shown in the photo below features a brown alligator leather strap and Everose gold case. While it is unlikely that anyone would refer to this dress watch as a daily beater, it is the ideal watch to wear in luxury environments such as high end retail or upscale residential real estate.

Everose Gold Rolex Cellini Time (photo: Rolex/Jean-Daniel Meyer)

A precious metal configuration may seem out of place at some of your daily stops, but that shouldn't discourage you from purchasing a gold or platinum Rolex if you fall in love with one. After all, a luxury watch purchase is more of an indulgence than a necessity, so the most important factor to consider before your daily watch purchase should be the way you feel when you're wearing it. Rolex has spent over a hundred years perfecting their watchmaking skills and in the process have created some of the most durable and reliable timepieces on the market. Their innovations, such as the virtually scratch-proof Cerachrom bezel insert on their ceramic models, make it very difficult to destroy one of their watches. 

When it comes to taking a beating on a daily basis, most of their models are up for the challenge. So, when choosing a Rolex for daily wear, go with whatever makes you happy. Whether purchasing your grail watch or a stainless steel model with a functionality that will help you throughout your workday, the most important thing to keep in mind is the satisfaction you feel with your watch on your wrist. 

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