Rolex has long been known for producing high-quality dive watches that offer precision and durability and signify luxury and style. As a prominent brand, Rolex has created several dive watch models to cater to different needs and preferences. Often, these timepieces are regarded as suitable for diving with their top-notch engineering and exquisite designs. The best luxury dive watch depends on personal preference.
Among Rolex’s dive watch offerings, the Submariner is among the most capable dive watches. Designed specifically with divers in mind, it’s indeed a reliable and versatile luxury dive watch. Its features, such as water resistance, luminescent markers, and unidirectional bezels, make it an ideal underwater companion for professional divers and enthusiasts.
In terms of rarity, the Rolex Deep Sea Special watch holds the record of the rarest piece, with only five models currently coming up for sale. This true dive watch sold for a whopping S$820,809 at Christie’s in 2009 and is regarded as one of the divers’ watches that defined Rolex’s identity.
Shopping around for the best Rolex dive watch? Here are some of our top ten picks you should consider:
1. Rolex Deepsea Challenge ref. m126067-0001 – RLX Titanium, Black Dial
About
Looking to hit the deep seas in style? The Rolex Deepsea Challenge ref. m126067-0001 is a suitable horological companion. This luxury men’s dive watch is known for its outstanding performance and durability.
It’s an improvement of James Cameron’s 2012 Deepsea Challenge watch, boasting more enhanced materials, a lighter heft, and a slightly lower water resistance rating. Additionally, It sets new standards for dive watches, being the most water-resistant watch in the world and the first Rolex watch crafted entirely from Titanium (RLX Titanium).
Features
They include 11,000m water resistance, an RLX Titanium case and bracelet, a Rolex Ringlock system, a thick domed sapphire crystal, and a helium escape valve on the left case edge.
Specifications
- Production Year: 2022
- Case Size: 50mm
- Materials:
- Dial – Intense black, with highly legible Chromalight Mercedes-style hands and round/rectangle/triangle markers
- Bracelet – RLX Titanium, Oyster, with Folding Oysterlock safety clasp with Rolex Glidelock extension system
- Bezel – Unidirectional rotatable, Titanium, with a black Cerachrom insert with a luminous pip at 12 o’clock and 60-minute graduations in platinum
- Function: Hours, Minutes, Seconds
- Mechanism: Self-winding Caliber 3230 movement with 31 jewels, a 70-hour power reserve, and a 28,800vph frequency
Why You Should Invest?
Rolex watches tend to hold and even increase in value well over time, making them a strong investment choice in the luxury watch market. For example, as per WatchCharts, its average market value increased from S$45,028 on March 25, 2023, to S$50,723 on September 17, 2023.
2. Rolex Submariner ref. m126613LN-0002 – Yellow Rolesor, Black Dial
About
The Rolex Submariner Date ref. m126613LN-0002 is a luxury men’s dive watch that is more classy than sporty. It commands respect and recognition with its unique, well-polished 41mm Yellow Rolesor case and matching bracelet, masculine black dial, and high-precision movement. It fits impressively well on the wrist due to its slim case profile and comfortable bracelet.
Features
Its key features include a Yellow Rolesor case and bracelet, a date window at 3 o’clock, a unidirectional rotatable bezel, a Cyclops magnifier lens above the date aperture, and a golden screw-down crown.
Specifications
- Production Year: 2020
- Case Size: 41mm
- Materials:
- Dial – Black with large Chromalight lume applied Mercedes-style hands and round/rectangle/triangle markers
- Bracelet – Two-tone, Oyster, with Folding Oysterlock safety clasp with Rolex Glidelock extension system
- Bezel – Unidirectional rotatable two-tone, with Cerachrom insert in black ceramic and gold-coated numerals and graduations
- Function: Date, Hours, Minutes, Seconds
- Mechanism: Automatic, self-winding Caliber 3235 movement with a 70-hour power reserve and 28,800vph frequency
Why You Should Invest?
According to WatchBase, it has increased in value steadily between 2020 and 2023. It had a price tag of S$19,773 on September 1, 2020, before rising to S$20,355 on January 11, 2022, and settling on S$22,681 on January 10, 2023.
3. Rolex Sea-Dweller ref. 126600 – Oystersteel, Black Dial
About
The Rolex Sea-Dweller ref. 126600 is a legendary luxury men’s dive watch designed for those who require exceptional functionality and performance. This Rolex Deepsea Sea-Dweller has a basic yet commanding steel-black dial design, amplified by its clean lines, polished surfaces, and well-lit dial for the ultimate underwater adventure.
Features
They include a red SEA DWELLER print on the dial, a unidirectional ceramic bezel with knurled edges, a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal over the dial, water resistance up to 1,220m, and a screw-down caseback.
Specifications
- Production Year: 2018
- Case Size: 43mm
- Materials:
- Dial – Black, with Chromalight hour markers and hands
- Bracelet – Oystersteel, Oyster, with Folding Oysterlock safety clasp with Rolex Glidelock extension system
- Bezel – Unidirectional rotatable, Oystersteel, with black Cerachrom insert with graduations and numerals coated in platinum
- Function: Date, Hours, Minutes, Seconds
- Mechanism: Perpetual, mechanical, self-winding Caliber 3235 movement
Why You Should Invest?
WatchBase indicates it has been rising in value since 2017. It had a price tag of S$15,193 on June 17, 2017, and maintained it until August 29, 2017, before rising to S$16,138 on January 4, 2020. Its value increased to S$17,883 on January 20, 2022, and further to S$19,264 on January 13, 2023.
4. Rolex Submariner ref. m126610LN-0001 – Oystersteel, Black Dial
About
Want a luxury men’s dive watch with a smaller case diameter? The Rolex Submariner Date ref. m126610LN-0001 fits the description. It continues the brand’s tradition of excellence in craftsmanship and performance with its 41mm Oystersteel case and matching bracelet, intense black dial, and various exciting features.
Features
Its main ones are water resistance to 300 meters, a unidirectional rotatable bezel, a screw-down crown with a Triplock triple waterproofness system, an Oystersteel case and bracelet, and a dial with luminescent Chromalight display.
Specifications
- Production Year: 2020
- Case Size: 41mm
- Materials:
- Dial – Black, with Chromalight luminescent hour markers and hands
- Bracelet – Oystersteel, Oyster, with Folding Oysterlock safety clasp with Rolex Glidelock extension system
- Bezel – Unidirectional rotatable, Oystersteel, with a black Cerachrom insert with 60-minute numerals and graduations
- Function: Date, Hours, Minutes, Seconds
- Mechanism: Automatic Caliber 3235 movement
Why You Should Invest?
As per WatchBase, its price has increased between 2020 and 2023. It began with a S$12,649 price on September 1, 2020, and advanced to S$13,958 on January 19, 2022. It rose further to S$14,903 on January 10, 2023.
5. Rolex Submariner ref. 126618LN-0002 – Yellow Gold, Black Dial
About
Another flashy gem in Rolex’s dive watch lineup, the Rolex Submariner Date ref. 126618LN-0002 is an all-gold luxury men’s timepiece with the trademark black dial. It’s among the brand’s nine Rolex Submariner models for 2020 and boasts a bigger case (by 1mm), an upgraded movement, thinner lugs, and smaller hour markers.
Features
Some of its notable features include an 18 ct Yellow Gold case and bracelet, a black dial with luminescent hour markers, a unidirectional rotatable golden bezel with a Cerachrom insert in black ceramic, a bracelet with an extension system, and a date window at 3 o’clock.
Specifications
- Production Year: 2020
- Case Size: 41mm
- Materials:
- Dial – Black with Chromalight luminescent hands and hour markers
- Bracelet – 18 ct Yellow Gold, Oyster, with Folding Oysterlock safety clasp with Rolex Glidelock extension system
- Bezel – Unidirectional rotatable, Yellow Gold, with Cerachrom insert in black ceramic and graduations and numerals coated in gold
- Function: Date, Hours, Minutes, Seconds
- Mechanism: Automatic Caliber 3235 movement
Why You Should Invest?
According to WatchBase, its price has increased between 2020 and 2023. It had a retail price of S$51,131 on September 1, 2020, and advanced to S$52,438 on January 19, 2022, before rising again to S$56,650 on January 10, 2023.
6. Rolex Submariner ref. m124060-0001– Oystersteel, Black Dial
About
The Rolex Submariner ref. m124060-0001 No-Date is a luxury men’s dive watch that’s an upgrade of the ref. 114060. It has a bigger case diameter (41mm from the previous 40mm), a new-generation movement (as indicated by the coronet between the SWISS and MADE wordings below 6 o’clock), a broader bracelet to suit the larger case, and more refined lugs to give it an overall aesthetic appeal.
Features
They include a 41mm Oystersteel case, a new generation movement, a unidirectional rotatable bezel, water resistance up to 300m, and an Oyster bracelet with a safety clasp.
Specifications
- Production Year: 2020
- Case Size: 41mm
- Materials:
- Dial – Black with luminescent hour markers
- Bracelet – Oystersteel, Oyster, with a Folding Oysterlock safety clasp with Rolex Glidelock extension system
- Bezel – Unidirectional rotatable, Oystersteel, with a Cerachrom insert in black ceramic and platinum-coated 60-minute numerals and numerals
- Function: Hours, Minutes, Seconds
- Mechanism: Self-winding Caliber 3230 movement
Why You Should Invest?
It increases in value with time, as WatchBase indicates. It had a S$11,185 price tag on September 1, 2020, which increased to S$12,347 on January 19, 2022, and a further S$13,218 on January 10, 2023.
7. Rolex Sea-Dweller ref. m126603-0001 – Yellow Rolesor, Black Dial
About
The Rolex Sea-Dweller ref. m126603-0001 is a luxury men’s dive watch that’s pretty similar to its ref. m126613LN-0002 cousin, except it’s a Sea-Dweller while the latter is a Submariner.
It was introduced in Baselworld 2019 and features a large 43mm Yellow Rolesor case and matching bracelet, curved, short lugs, a flat sapphire crystal over the dial, and a 15.2mm thickness- which is chunky on some wrists. It’s more of a luxury piece than an adventure machine, for its golden material, of course.
Features
They include a 43mm Yellow Rolesor case and bracelet, a date display at 3 o’clock, SEA DWELLER wordings printed in Yellow Gold on the dial, a Cerachrom insert in black ceramic, and a 1,220m water resistance rating.
Specifications
- Production Year: 2019
- Case Size: 43mm
- Materials:
- Dial – Black, with Chromalight luminescent large hands and hour markers
- Bracelet – Oyster bracelet with Oysterlock safety clasp
- Bezel – Unidirectional rotatable, Yellow Rolesor, with Cerachrom insert in black ceramic and numerals and graduations coated in gold
- Function: Date, Hours, Minutes, Seconds
- Mechanism: Self-winding mechanical Caliber 3235 movement
Why You Should Invest?
It has been rising in value consistently from 2019 to 2023, according to WatchBase. It had a price of S$21,571 on March 20, 2019, which rose to S$22,951 on January 4, 2020, which increased further to S$23,532 on January 20, 2022, and an impressive S$26,146 value on January 13, 2023.
8. Rolex Sea-Dweller ref. 16600 – Stainless Steel, Black Dial
About
The Rolex Sea-Dweller ref. 16600 is a vintage luxury men’s dive watch boasting a wrist presence and timeless beauty. This automatic watch is among the classic watches with improved features for a higher water resistance rating and deeper saturation diving.
It earns admiration and desire from most watch fans for its stainless steel construction, rich black dial, professional-grade features, and the fact that it’s the last of the ‘old style’ Sea-Dweller models.
Features
They include an automatically-operated helium escape valve, a 40mm stainless steel case, a unidirectional bezel with a 60-minute scale, water resistance up to 1,220m, and a sapphire crystal over its dial.
Specifications
- Production Year: 1988-2008
- Case Size: 40mm
- Materials:
- Dial – Black, with Chromalight luminescent hands and hour markers
- Bracelet – Stainless steel, Oyster, with an Oysterlock safety clasp with Glidelock extension system for a comfortable fit over a diving suit
- Bezel – Unidirectional rotating, stainless steel, with a Cerachrom insert in black ceramic, with platinum-coated 60-minute numerals and graduations
- Function: Date, Hours, Minutes, Seconds, Chronometer
- Mechanism: Self-winding Caliber 3135 movement with 31 jewels, a 48-hour power reserve, and 28,800vph frequency
Why You Should Invest?
As a discontinued model, it’s an attractive option for watch enthusiasts and collectors seeking a classic Rolex dive watch. Additionally, its price increased by 10 percent between 2022 and September 17, 2023.
9. Rolex Sea-Dweller ‘Great White’ref. 1665 – Stainless Steel, Black Dial
About
The Rolex Sea-Dweller “Great White” ref. 1665 is an extraordinary luxury men’s dive timepiece. It’s not only an iteration of the first Sea-Dweller watch, but it marked the start of a new era in the collection (away from previous pieces that had red text on the surface of their dials-Double Red) and got its nickname from the fact that it had all-white text on its dial.
Features
The main ones are a 610m water resistance rating, Tritium luminous material on its hour markers, a bidirectional bezel with an aluminum insert, a domed acrylic crystal over its dial, and all-white text on its dial.
Specifications
- Production Year: 1977-1983 (approximately)
- Case Size: 40mm
- Materials:
- Dial – Black, with Tritium luminescent hour markers
- Bracelet – Stainless steel, Oyster
- Bezel – Bidirectional rotating, stainless steel, with a black aluminum insert
- Function: Date, Hours, Minutes, Seconds
- Mechanism: Self-winding Caliber 1575 mechanical movement with 25 jewels, a 48-hour power reserve, and a 19,800vph frequency
Why You Should Invest?
Its discontinued state and historical significance make this vintage Rolex appealing to most watch collectors. Plus, its price increased by at least 15% between 2022 and 2023.
10. Rolex Submariner ref. m126610LV-0002 – Oystersteel, Black Dial
About
The Rolex Submariner Date ref. m126610LV-0002 ‘Starbucks’ is an iconic luxury men’s modern dive watch. It’s an upgrade of the ref. 116610LV ‘Kermit’ and flaunts the improvement with its larger 41mm Oystersteel case with softer lines and proportions, an anti-reflective coating on the inner side of its crystal, and a bezel insert with a deeper, more saturated color and Cerachrom material. It retains the 300m water resistance rating.
Features
They include a unidirectional rotatable bezel with a green Cerachrom insert, a sapphire crystal with an anti-reflective coating on its inner side, an Oyster bracelet with a Glidelock extension system, a date aperture at 3 o’clock with a Cyclops magnifier lens above it, and a new generation movement.
Specifications
- Production Year: 2020
- Case Size: 41mm
- Materials:
- Dial – Black with Chromalight luminescent hands and large hour markers
- Bracelet – Oystersteel, Oyster, with Folding Oysterlock safety clasp with Rolex Glidelock extension system
- Bezel – Unidirectional rotatable, Oystersteel, with a green Cerachrom insert and numerals and graduations coated in platinum
- Function: Date, Hours, Minutes, Seconds, Chronometer
- Mechanism: Self-winding, Caliber 3235 movement
Why You Should Invest?
According to WatchBase, its price has increased between 2020 and 2023. It had a S$13,218 price on September 1, 2020, and rose to S$14,671 on January 19, 2022, before increasing further to S$15,688 on January 10, 2023.
Summary
The following table highlights the Rolex watches above, plus their key features, retail, private market, and pre-owned prices:
| Model | Key Features | Retail Price | Private Market Price | Pre-Owned Price |
| Rolex Deepsea Challenge ref. m126067-0001 | • 11,000m water resistance • RLX Titanium case and bracelet • Thick domed sapphire crystal | S$35,469 | S$50,723 | S$53,412 |
| Rolex Submariner Date ref. m126613LN-0002 | • Yellow Rolesor case and bracelet • Date window at 3 o’clock • Unidirectional rotatable bezel | S$21,322 | S$21,659 | S$23,247 |
| Rolex Sea-Dweller ref. 126600 | • Red SEA DWELLER print on the dial • Unidirectional bezel with knurled edges • Water resistance up to 1,220m | S$18,110 | S$17,740 | S$19,066 |
| Rolex Submariner Date ref. 126610LN-0001 | • Water resistance up to 300m • Screw-down crown with Triplock triple waterproofness system • Dial with luminescent Chromalight display | S$14,010 | S$18,370 | S$19,812 |
| Rolex Submariner Date ref. 126618LN-0002 | • 18 ct Yellow Gold case and bracelet • Unidirectional rotatable golden bezel with a Cerachrom insert in black ceramic • Bracelet with an extension system | S$53,306 | S$50,889 | S$54,472 |
| Rolex Submariner ref. m124060-0001 | • 41mm Oystersteel case • New generation movement • Oyster bracelet with a safety clasp | S$12,438 | S$15,958 | S$17,180 |
| Rolex Sea-Dweller ref. m126603-0001 | • 43mm Yellow Rolesor case and bracelet • SEA DWELLER wordings printed in Yellow Gold on the dial • 1,220m water resistance rating | S$24,603 | S$22,267 | S$23,386 |
| Rolex Sea-Dweller ref. m16600 | • Automatically-operated helium escape valve • 40mm stainless steel case • Unidirectional bezel with a 60-minute scale | S$8,748 | S$12,880 | S$14,163 |
| Rolex Sea-Dweller ‘Great White’ ref. m1665 | • 610m water resistance rating • Tritium luminous material on its hour markers • Bidirectional bezel with an aluminum insert | S$25,149 | S$36,345 | S$40,179 |
| Rolex Submariner Date ref. m126610LV-0002 | • Unidirectional rotatable bezel with a green Cerachrom insert • Sapphire crystal with an anti-reflective coating on its inner side • Oyster bracelet with a Glidelock extension system | S$14,762 | S$21,351 | S$22,712 |
Final Word
Rolex dive watches are markers of both luxurious design and impressive functionality. Whether one desires a classic, versatile timepiece or a majestic technological marvel, they can be confident that a Rolex dive watch will meet their expectations and excel in performance.
Key Takeaways
- Rolex’s professional, high-quality dive watch lineup consists of three categories: the Submariner, the Sea-Dweller, and the Deepsea. Each of these Rolex models offers unique features and capabilities to cater to different divers’ needs.
- Rolex dive watches boast impressive technical features such as 18ct gold-laced hands and markers, an Oyster bracelet with an Oysterlock clasp, a unidirectional bezel with knurled edges, and a Triplock screw-down crown.
- Rolex dive watches offer top-notch craftsmanship, exceptional performance, and various styles and features for various diving adventures.
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