The pinnacle of Rolex

[ROlesorusLEX]

Originally Posted by dmash

Agree

And it’s exactly why I just bought a NOS one. It’s pinnacle Rolex tool watch, hands down (imo).

5 digit and before has a soul, 6 digit is kind of lifeless jewelry. Although many models look good, they just don’t sing to me like the older ones do. Feel sterile in all honesty.

I have owned and sold every 6 digit I've ever bought and replaced it with a 5, except for my first watch, a 6 digit DJ36. It goes nowhere. But I did buy an NOS 5 digit 1993 DJ a few months ago as well.

I saw your incoming on the NOS 16600. Congratulations. I bought a V serial NOS 16600 about 3 years ago myself.

I love it when people don't wear their Rolexes for the next guy. . .

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[dmash]

Originally Posted by ROlesorusLEX

I have owned and sold every 6 digit I've ever bought and replaced it with a 5, except for my first watch, a 6 digit DJ36. It goes nowhere. But I did buy an NOS 5 digit 1993 DJ a few months ago as well.

I saw your incoming on the NOS 16600. Congratulations. I bought a V serial NOS 16600 about 3 years ago myself.

I love it when people don't wear their Rolexes for the next guy. . .

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Haha v series SD brothers, nice!

But yeah man, the 6 series, I enjoy them and they’re nice pieces. But the only way to describe it to me is as I did, most of it feels like lifeless jewelry, evokes no real emotion to me. It’s why I overhauled my entire arsenal with stuff that sings to me more. My 136660 JC Deepsea is an exception with its feats of engineering to go so deep, the nice transition blue dial, it’s something special. But yeah a run of the mill GMT, Sub? 5 series and prior for the win, 100%

Maybe I’m just an extreme weirdo though

[Harry-57]

An easy one to answer, it's the watch that you consider to be the pinnacle. I like too many Rolex models to hold one higher than the rest so I'll default to the zeitgeist's Rolex mass production hierarchy: Day Date. Sky Dweller was originally supposed to usurp it but failed.

[Old Expat Beast]

Something from the 1950s. The Golden Age.

[rmlovett1]

As someone said already…in the eye of the beholder.

[bp1000]

I think the submariner is the best dive watch ever made and it stays that way with every single release.

There are better chronographs, better calendar watches, better time only watches, I'd even argue the travel time or world times might be better than a lazy GMT.

Nobody has beaten the submariner since it launched.

Thats as good as it gets.

If this is based on looks, then the world's your oyster. It could be a 1930's Cartier mono pusher or a Rexhep Rexhepi chronometre.

My favourite watch ever made is a simple Patek Philippe 530 time only black breguet dial. Impossible to get. Never will own one.

[Driver8]

So many ways you can look at this.

If case metal means the most to you, then it'll be something in platinum.
If movement complexity is your thing, then it could be the Skydweller, or (with an honourable mention) the Daytona.
If "iconicness" (if that was a real word) is the yardstick measurement of 'pinnacle', then it might be the Submariner.
If it's classic heritage that yanks your chain, then maybe it's the DJ.

Like so many things in life, it's all in the eye (and belief) of the beholder.

[garyk]

Originally Posted by brandrea

Beauty in the eye of the beholder. One could argue that any which one is the pinnacle.

For me, it’s probably the Submariner.

I agree!!

[HogwldFLTR]

Pinnacle, it's a fun game and it's been ages since I played it. Essentially what others have said. If price is the criteria there are far more expensive models to be bought. Had the Platona and tired of the heft after a few years. As far as the Pt DD40, without the ice blue dial it's hard to differentiate it from WG. It's really not that unique.

[daysky1]

Originally Posted by pearson1995

I’ve often wondered, what Rolex is the one which is as good as it gets. I would presume it has to be PM. Sub/GMT/Daytona and DD are probably the likely contenders. Platinum over gold? If so that would be the platinum Daytona vs the DD. I would say I don’t like diamonds on a man’s watch (general rule of thumb). Is the Daytona / DD platinum the best it gets for Rolex in your opinion?

For me the flagship Rolex is the day date however if you're talking sports watches possibly the Submariner would be the watch in that category. Everybody has their own ideas on the subject and that's mine.

[Boopie]

Hard to say with watches, as Rolex constantly improves. So many of us here have worn the same Rolex watch daily for 20-30 years or more, whether a PM or a SS watch. You can’t really beat that. I do like the sturdier clasps, and of course the modern oyster bracelets are far sturdier than the older versions. My rotation includes a 114200 Air King circa 2007….price wise it was at the lowest end of the Rolex lineup. It has a COSC movement. It’s a great weekend adventure watch as it has no date, is all brushed SS, and has the newer, sturdier 6-digit clasp. It constantly amazes me how well made it is, and how timeless it is.

I think it is possible to name a pinnacle of a certain car or car manufacturer. For example, there was a period of time when Mercedes made excellent cars that were engineered to last forever. While I do daily drive a modern Mercedes, I don’t think it’s designed to last 20 or more years like the R107 chassis cars (e.g. the 450SLs and 560SLs) that were made from 1971-1989. Rolex continues to improve with durability and its movement technology.

[JRell]

Had so many. BLNR on jubilee for me, Not a huge DD fan.

[TEPSD4K]

My definition of “pinnacle” includes best materials, most advanced technology and iconic status. For me that means the Le Mans Daytona.

[subtona]

From a movement point of view I would say the Daytona.

When it comes to Rolex, I don’t think precious metals mean all that much outside of a heftier price tag and feel.

[Kenny G]

Originally Posted by Calatrava r

They are all made the same in the same factories out of the same materials. So, the answer lies in the one you like best.

Originally Posted by brandrea

Beauty in the eye of the beholder. One could argue that any which one is the pinnacle.

Fully agree. It’s completely subjective.

The platinum DD is certainly a beaut though…

[Torshalla]

When I was a kid, Rolex to me was the yellow gold watch that did not look nice but rich people liked wearing to show status… and the watch that would get robbed or sold when needing quick money. My only exposure to Rolex was from movies.
I did not at the time realize that Rolex also made the Submariner… nor anything else about the brand.
Eventually I started to like watches, got to love Omega through James Bond, got a Seamaster, then Seamaster NTTD. Still not paying any attention to Rolex as the name still carried a negative image to me.

Until I finally discovered the Submariner.
Tried it on, loved it. Happy to own one now and it is my number one watch. Though I still rotate with the Seamaster NTTD (which is lower key and few recognize for what it is).
Through the Sub I have discovered many other great Rolexes and hope to add a GMT and a Skydweller to my collection ”soon”. I also love the Explorer and Explorer II.

I still cannot see myself wearing a yellow gold watch though… lol

Anyway, to me, the Rolex, is the Submariner.


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[njlam]

Obviously, this is a very individual choice/idea. For me, it is a YG Day Date with the classic President bracelet/fluted bezel/white dial with bars.

That being said, when I see the WG LeMans, given its rarity and uniquely iconic layout, I think that would be the pinnacle, if I could get one.

[Afratello03]

Originally Posted by Calatrava r

They are all made the same in the same factories out of the same materials. So, the answer lies in the one you like best.

Exactly! It all depends on you to make a choice that befits your life style.

[hojlund]

Originally Posted by Bazil

VTNR - will go down in history as the greatest … you heard it here first …

lol.

[Devildog]

Originally Posted by pearson1995

I’ve often wondered, what Rolex is the one which is as good as it gets. I would presume it has to be PM. Sub/GMT/Daytona and DD are probably the likely contenders. Platinum over gold? If so that would be the platinum Daytona vs the DD. I would say I don’t like diamonds on a man’s watch (general rule of thumb). Is the Daytona / DD platinum the best it gets for Rolex in your opinion?

Objectively, the most complex movement is that found in the Sky Dweller and material wise, gold (specifically white) carries the highest material value (as of today gold is more than 2x the price of platinum per ounce)

So one could argue that a white gold sky dweller on a bracelet has the most raw material value by weight and the most complex movement.

Pinnacle by definition means the "highest culminating point" so removing demand, desirability, hype, market value, etc from the equation I'd say there's an argument that the watch with the highest material value by weight and the most complex movement would take the title.

However, if the highest point is taken on sales, it would be the Datejust.

If its purely down to the highest purchase price you're looking at one of the off catalogue references.

But if you look at pinnacle more subjectively, its the one you like the most