Rolex is one of the most esteemed brands in the world and is synonymous to the word ‘luxury’.
Because of its price and prestige, only the wealthiest usually own the timepiece.
But that’s not entirely true, though, because there are cheap Rolex watches for sale that anyone can afford.
Whats the Cheapest Rolex Watches in the world?
Here’s a list of the cheapest Rolex watches in the world.
Oyster Date 1501
The 34mm Oyster Date has a stainless steel case, bezel, and band, a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, a magnified date window, luminescent hands and markers, and a 26-jewel calibre 1570 automatic movement.
It’s one of the most versatile models from Oyster which you can wear on formal occasions, on a meeting, or even while playing golf.
Tom Cruise, Andy Warhol, and Martin Luther King are the most popular celebrities seen wearing this model.
Pros:
- Reliable, everyday timepiece
- Simple but elegant design suited for any occasion
- Time and date are both visible and easily readable
- Precise timekeeping
- Power reserve of up to 48 hours
- Water-resistant up to 100m
Cons:
- It seems pricey for its basic features
- The 1501 model can be hard to find
- Bezel easily catches dirt
Price: $2,600 to $6,150
Explorer 114270
This cheap Rolex watch is an underappreciated beauty.
It has the no-frills look of a classic timepiece without any kind of complication or fancy design.
The 36mm Explorer 114270 has a stainless steel case, band, and bezel, a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, a screw-down crown, Arabic numeral hour markers at the 3, 6, and 9 o’clock positions, luminescent hands and markers, and a calibre 3130 self-winding movement.
Prominent celebrities who own an Explorer include Matt Damon and John Hamm.
Pros:
- Watch face is highly legible
- Power reserve of up to 48 hours
- Water-resistant up to 100m
Cons:
- No date window
- Quite costly considering it only has the most basic features
- Limited design options
Price: $4,500 to $6,500
Explorer II 16570
The 42m Explorer II has a stainless steel case, a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, a fixed stainless steel bezel with 24-hour markers, a Cyclops date window, a Mercedes-style hour hand, a GMT hand, luminescent hands and markers, and a calibre 3185 self-winding mechanical movement.
This cheap Rolex watch is built for rugged use.
Tom Hardy, Jason Statham, and Prince Harry are the most famous personalities who own an Explorer II.
With a royalty owning an Explorer II, you won’t think that this is one of the cheapest Rolex watches in the world.
Pros:
- Excellent lume brightness
- Watch face is very legible
- It can be paired with any outfit
- Power reserve of up to 46 hours
- Water-resistant up to 100m
Cons:
- Watch size might not be suitable to users with small wrists
- Bezel gets scratched easily
- Clasp feels cheap
Price: $4,700 to $8,750
Oyster Perpetual
The 39mm Oyster Perpetual has a stainless steel case, a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, a rhodium dial, an Oyster bracelet, luminescent hands and markers, and a calibre 3132 automatic movement.
The Oyster Perpetual may be one of the cheapest Rolex watches for sale but its design and quality shouldn’t be underestimated.
Its simple but classic style is a sure hit for anyone looking for a versatile watch that will still hold a high value in the future.
Pros:
- Clean and legible watch face
- Power reserve of up to 48 hours
- Water-resistant up to 100m
Cons:
- No date window
- Seems pricey for its basic features
- Might be too plain for some users
Price: $5,500
Yacht-Master 16622
The Yacht-Master is a modern-looking cheap Rolex watch designed for seafarers.
The platinum bezel gives it a unique look that you won’t see in other models from the brand.
Famous fans of the Yacht-Master include Bruce Willis, Brad Pitt, and Mark Wahlberg.
The 40mm Yacht-Master has a stainless steel case and band, a bi-directional rotatable platinum bezel with 60-minute markings, a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, a screw-down crown, a red-colored seconds hand, a Cyclops date window, luminescent hands and markers, and a calibre 3135 self-winding mechanical movement.
Pros:
- Great lume brightness
- Clean watch face
- Power reserve of up to 50 hours
- Water-resistant up to 100m
Cons:
- Time can be hard to read under certain light conditions
- Crown is a bit large
- The watch itself is large and heavy
Price: $5,800 to $11,000
Air-King 116900
The Air-King was originally developed for the British Royal Air Force which explains the cockpit-like watch face.
It was designed to withstand the excessive gravitational force and provide excellent readability.
Ryan Gosling, Anderson Cooper, and Orlando Bloom are some of the most prominent personalities who own an Air-King.
This cheap Rolex watch measures 38mm and has a stainless steel case, band, and bezel, a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, large Arabic numeral hour and minute markers, luminescent hands and markers, and a calibre 3131 self-winding mechanical movement.
Its case is built to shield the mechanisms inside from magnetic fields.
Pros:
- Accurate timekeeping mechanism
- Power reserve of up to 48 hours
- Water-resistant up to 100m
Cons:
- No date window
- Watch face can be confusing to read at first
- Little lume applied on the hands
Price: $6,000 to $6,700
Milgauss 116400GV
Rolex shows its geeky side with the Milgauss model.
Its green and orange accent adds to the esoteric appeal of the timepiece.
Daniel Craig and Eric Clapton are the celebrities who seem to have been captivated by the exotic look of the Milgauss.
The 40mm Milgauss has a stainless steel case, band, and bezel, a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, luminescent markers and hands, and a calibre 3131 self-winding mechanical movement.
What makes this cheap Rolex watch standout are the green sapphire crystal and the magnetic shielding put on the case.
Pros:
- The green hue on the dial adds to the watch’s stylishness
- Highly accurate timekeeping mechanism
- Thunderbolt seconds hand adds a unique flavor to the watch
- Power reserve of up to 48 hours
- Water-resistant up to 100m
Cons:
- No date window
- Its unconventional color might not fit formal wear
- Antimagnetic properties seem insignificant in justifying the price
Price: $6,000 to $8,900
Submariner 168000
This Rolex classic is a mainstay in the brand’s collection.
It’s still one of the most sought-after models that other brands even create cheap Rolex copies just to ride on its fame and popularity.
Just like the classic that the Submariner 168000 is, timeless actors like Robert Redford and Sean Connery are some of the most famous owners of the model.
The 40mm Submariner has a stainless steel case, bezel, and band, a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, a solid case back, a unidirectional rotating bezel with Cerachrom insert, a screw-down crown, a Cyclops date window, luminescent hands and markers, and a calibre 3035 self-winding mechanical movement.
Pros:
- Solid, durable build
- Excellent lume brightness
- Power reserve of up to 50 hours
- Water-resistant up to 300m
Cons:
- Crown is a bit large
- It’s quite heavy to wear
- Design looks too familiar because of its extreme popularity
Price: $7,100 to $8,100
Sea-Dweller 16600T
The 40mm Sea-Dweller has a stainless steel case, a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, a screw-down crown, a unidirectional rotating bezel with minute markers, a helium escape valve, a date window, a Mercedes-style hand, luminescent hands and markers, and a caibre 3135 self-winding mechanical movement.
The Sea-Dweller is suited for serious divers who want a reliable watch that can withstand deep underwater pressure.
Its no-nonsense design also has its appeal which is why celebrities like Tiger Woods, David Beckham, and Tom Hanks love this timepiece.
Pros:
- Solid clicks on bezel with no play
- Watch face is easy to read
- Durable and shock-resistant
- Power reserve of up to 48 hours
- Water-resistant up to 1,220m
Cons:
- It has a large crown
- It’s quite big and heavy
- Date window is not magnified
Price: $7,500 to $12,000
GMT-Master 16700 “Pepsi”
The GMT-Master Pepsi is probably one of the most iconic models Rolex has ever made.
It’s available in other color variants, but the red-blue color combination of the bezel which gave this watch the moniker “Pepsi”, is still the best out there.
Clint Eastwood and Hugh Laurie are the celebrities seen sporting the Rolex Pepsi.
The 40mm Pepsi has a stainless steel case, a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, a unidirectional rotating bezel with 24-hour markings, a GMT hand, a Mercedes-style hour hand, a Cyclops date window, luminescent hands and markers, and a calibre 3175 self-winding mechanical movement.
Pros:
- Its unique color combination makes it a collector’s item
- Accurate timekeeping mechanism
- Superb lume brightness
- Power reserve of up to 42 hours
- Water-resistant up to 100m
Cons:
- Hard to find due to the limited production number
- It can be incredibly pricey
- It’s quite big and heavy
Price: $7,700 to $41,000
Cosmograph Daytona 116500LN
The Cosmograph Daytona is one of the rarest and most coveted Rolex models.
This iconic sports watch has a lot of history behind it.
It can be very hard to find nowadays, with sellers most likely selling pre-owned models.
Adam Levine and John Mayer are two of the celebrities who are lucky enough to own a Cosmograph Daytona.
The 40mm Daytona has a stainless steel case and band, a ceramic bezel with tachymeter scale, a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, luminescent hands and markers, and a calibre 4130 self-winding mechanical movement.
It has 3 chronograph subdials with 30-minute, 60-second, and 12-hour counters.
Pros:
- Ceramic bezel is virtually scratch-proof
- Vintage look with a modern twist
- Power reserve of up to 72 hours
Cons:
- Large crown and pushers
- No date window
- Hard to find
Price: $12,500 to $17,250
These are the cheapest Rolex watches for sale.
They’re still relatively expensive when compared to mid-range watches from other brands but comparatively cheaper when you think about the price of the Day-Date, the Pearlmaster, and the Sky-Dweller.
Rolex has made it possible for everyone to own a piece from their collection through a watch loan plan.
Accredited retail stores all around the globe offer Rolex finance programs that will let you own specific models by paying them in installments.
Similar to house and car loans, this program allows you to own the cheapest Rolex models available.
This is way better than buying cheap Rolex copies that have unreliable quality and knock-off designs.
Final Thoughts
Rolex is a brand known for its prestige and quality.
Their collections are relatively expensive but there are also cheap Rolex models that everyone can afford.
Especially now that there are Rolex finance programs, owning a luxury timepiece has never been easier.
