In an earlier article, we discussed which Rolex watches are the hardest to get.
But whilst understanding which models are the hardest to get is indicative of which models are the most popular and most sought-after, it may not be very helpful if you’re trying to buy a Rolex watch for yourself from a Rolex official retailer. Because if you go into a Rolex retailer asking for the models that are the most difficult to get, you will more than likely be denied. Or maybe even laughed at, sadly.
But this question naturally brings up another question - which Rolex models are the easiest to buy? If you’re looking to buy a Rolex watch, you’re not interested in knowing which models are not available. You’re interested in knowing which models are available. Or, at least easy to get after just a few weeks or months of wait.
When we are talking about Rolex availability, we are of course talking about the availability of watches from official Rolex retailers and not on the secondhand market. Because this is a completely different story where any model is available immediately - you’ll just have to pay the market price.
So to help you get a better idea of which Rolex models are the easiest to buy and generally easy to get, we will discuss the models that you actually can buy without being quoted waiting lists of several years or simply being denied.
A word about Rolex availability
Before we dig in, it’s important to point out that the availability of different Rolex watches always varies depending on the store. Rolex retailers don’t always decide which models they get and which models they don’t get, so even if a model is easy to get, it doesn’t mean that a store will always have it in stock.
For example, if you’re looking for a Datejust 31 with a specific dial and configuration, it’s not certain that the store will have it. This is because the Datejust 31 is available in so many different configurations that it’s simply impossible for a store to stock one of each version at all times. However, with that said, these types of models do generally not have a waiting list, so if you request the store to order it for you, you are technically guaranteed the next one they receive. But still, it may take a few months from when you order it to when the store gets it. Not necessarily because it is hard to get, but because that is often what the process looks like. It may of course go much faster, but it can also take a longer time, all depending on when Rolex decides to send it to the retailer.
With that said, do not confuse delivery times with waiting lists and popularity.
Ultimately, you will have to ask the store about the availability as each store’s availability and situation differs. But if you approach them asking for models that they don’t get asked for multiple times a day, they’ll be more happy and inclined to assist.
Rolex ladies watches
The demand for Rolex men’s watches is considerably higher than for women’s watches. Generally, women’s watches are considered watches with a diameter of less than 36mm. Because 36mm is considered unisex, they are worn by both men and women, which tends to make the demand for them rather high, for example, the Datejust 36 which is quite difficult to buy from Rolex retailers in some configurations, specifically the 126234 with Jubilee bracelet.
In general, all Rolex ladies' watches are easy to buy, and if the AD doesn’t have a watch in stock, they are usually able to order it for you within a reasonable time frame. There are some exceptions, however, such as the Oyster Perpetual 31 with colorful dials, released in 2020.
Non-professional watches
The watches that are the most difficult to buy are models that are part of the professional line. This includes the Daytona, GMT-Master, Yacht-Master, Submariner, Deepsea, Sea-Dweller, Milgauss, and Air-King.
With that said, all non-professional models are much easier to buy as the demand for them is lower, and the supply tends to be greater. However, this doesn’t mean that there aren’t non-professional Rolex models that aren’t highly popular as well, but as a general rule, non-professional models are much easier to get than professional models. So if you’re looking to buy a Rolex watch and don’t want to wait an eternity, start looking for the models that are not part of the professional lines.
Gold and steel watches (two-tone)
The most popular watches from Rolex are made in stainless steel. On the contrary, gold and steel watches tend to be much easier to buy. Gold and steel watches do not speak to everyone, and in addition, they’re also more expensive than their full-steel counterparts. The result is that two-tone watches are easier to buy.
Now, there are some two-tone watches that are still relatively difficult to buy, like the two-time submariners, and the two-tone GMT-Master II, or Daytona, but if you also look beyond the professional line, you’ll be able to find a large number of models that are either readily available or easy to order. Today, the two-tone Datejust models tend to be the easiest models to buy for men, specifically two-tone Datejust 36 and two-tone Datejust 41 models.
(Some) full gold professional models
Back in the day, you could easily buy any full gold professional model. They had no waiting lists and the AD became super happy if you purchased one. But in recent years, things have changed and now, almost all Rolex professional models are difficult to buy, surprisingly. This is particularly true for the Daytona line.
However, there are still a few professional models in full gold that are still relatively easy to buy. At the same time, we have noticed that as more and more professional models in full gold get waiting lists, people start looking at the next best option, which results in an increased demand for models across the board.
But if you really want a professional Rolex and cannot get your hands on a full steel or two-tone model, you can look at some of the full gold options.
The full gold models that are (relatively) easy to get are:
- Submariner 126618LB
- Submariner 126618lN
- Rolex Yacht-Master 2 in yellow or white gold
- Sky-Dweller in full gold - due to the high price of this watch, it is a model that only speaks to a relatively small audience. At the same time, Rolex ADs do not, in general, receive a lot of Sky-Dwellers, so it is not certain that an AD will have it in stock. But usually, they’ll be able to order it for you without any problems.
Day-Date 36
The Day-Date 36 is a model that is relatively easy to buy from a Rolex AD. They rarely have long waiting lists (if any), meaning you can also order them if they are not readily available.
As the availability of professional models has become so difficult, many people have started looking at options, and this has resulted in an increased demand for the Day-Date 40. Just a few years ago, you could easily find any Day-Date 40 as they had no waiting lists, but today, the Day-Date 40 is a model that has become increasingly difficult to get. Now, it is by no means impossible, but it is much more difficult than the Day-Date 36.
More diamonds = easier to get
Diamonds don’t speak to most people. When most people are looking for a Rolex, they usually look for models without diamonds.
In addition, since diamonds are expensive, far from everyone is willing to pay for the extra cost that is associated with diamonds.
With this said, a general rule is: the more diamonds are on a watch, the easier it is to get. There are a few exceptions to this rule, but it is still worth keeping in mind. If you’re a fan of diamonds, you’ll likely have an easier time finding the exact watch you want.
Rolex Cellini
The Rolex Cellini collection is a model from Rolex that has basically no waiting lists. This is definitely the easiest model you can find at a Rolex AD, and if they don’t have the model you are looking for, they’ll likely be more than happy to order it for you.
The Rolex Cellini has always been overshadowed by Rolex’s other models, and it is a model that doesn’t sell too well compared to the other models. Therefore, the Cellini watches are unarguably the easiest to buy from Rolex today.
Rolex has always been associated with making durable, robust, and versatile timepieces, but never for making dress watches. When most people consider luxury dress watches, they often gravitate towards other brands that have become synonymous with luxury dress watches like Patek Philippe or Vacheron Constantin. But this is also great news if you are actually a fan of the Cellini collection and want a Rolex dress watch.