The 5 Most Under-Appreciated Rolex Models (One Will Definitely Surprise You)

So, it's a bit of an oxymoron to talk about underappreciated and Rolex. They dominate the industry in so many regards. But if you really get down to it and you compare it all relatively speaking, there are some Rolex models that are not as talked about, not as collected, not as sought after as others. And in this video, what we're going to be looking at is the five most underappreciated Rolex models as we enter 2026. What I'm looking at here is current production models only. So, we're not looking at models from the past, vintage pieces, but really try to inform this around data. A lot of this will come down to trading values, retail prices, things in comparison to that. That is all subject to change in the future. So, if you are watching this in the future, and things do change, don't get mad at me. This is all a reflection of what is going on at the time of recording this video in December of 2025 as we get into a new year and looking at the landscape of Rolex. And some of these might surprise you more than others. And where I'm really thinking about this is all relatively speaking. It's not all about just the most approachable Rolex models and the ones that are trading the lowest below retail. I want to try to derive some level of reason behind why I think these might be solid buys or just maybe not thought about in the same way as they should and maybe just being watches that more people should actually consider. Now, if you're simply looking for Rolex watches, where is the point of entry for the brand? I'd recommend checking out the article down below. I'll put in the description. We put this together going through a variety of different references, the low and highs of different models that you can go into. That includes both vintage and modern. We break down different price ranges of some of those top references, discuss Rolex models adjusted for inflation. I had head-to-head pricing for comparisons of specific models, price changes over time, and a lot more. So, if that is more your speed, that will also be in the description down below. But stick around here until the end. So, to kick things off, I want to look at the one that probably will surprise the most people when I lead off a video with this. And some might just be like, "I'm clicking off. This guy doesn't know what he's talking about." But hear me out. So, I have talked a lot about the Explorer 2, and this is not where I'm going with the Explorer 2 because I think recent data that I've seen shows the opposite. I've always championed the Explorer 2. I'm wearing one on my wrist. I've talked about it all the time. you look at previous videos where I've talked about this as being underappreciated. But when you start to look at what's happened with the Rolex Explorer 2, especially the white polar 226570, it trades over retail. And then even the black dial trades over retail. And I think now as you factor all of the fanfare that's been directed towards the Explore 2, I don't know if it's necessarily underrated. It is properly rated. And if you looked at people that watch this channel, it's even more out of bounds. When we did a Rolex tournament that had a starting number of Rolex watches that eventually got narrowed down to a 64 watch tournament, but the starting number in the original form was well over 200. The Explore 2 was a one seat. That means that it was in the top four of the most popular Rolex models when people were trying to classify the best. So, that watch has no reason to be on this list. But why did I bring that up at the beginning? Because I think the first watch here I want to talk about is just the Rolex Explorer. Now, some of you might be freaking out in the fact that I just said the Rolex Explorer is underappreciated. It's a watch that people talk about all the time in the collecting community, but you contrast that to the amount of time it's talked about versus what the real landscape looks like and how it's actually not purchased as much as many people like to think, and you look at the trading values, it starts to make more sense. So, for one, it now is behind the Explorer 2 on the preview page for Rolex. When I reference the Explore 2 as being underappreciated, I don't read into this a crazy amount, but the way that Rolex positions their website is probably a representation of how they might think about the brand, but also is probably meticulously crafted. Maybe I'm giving them too much credit, but I just feel like everything that Rolex does is so thoughtful. Uh, so to lead with the Explorer 2 rather than the Explorer to represent the Explorer collection, I found that pretty telling. In addition, the current production Explorer 36 millimeter, that's the 124270, trades below retail. And then the 40 millimeter is just going to edge it out in its trading value over retail, but it's not a huge appreciation by any means. So, it indicates that not a difficult watch to get at retail pricing. And then the two-tone trading considerably under retail. But here's a point that really surprised me. You talk all this acclaim around the Rolex Explorer. It's like the one watch, a Swiss Army knife of luxury watches. You can wear it anywhere. Then you look at the Rolex Oyster Perpetual, just the black dial, one of the dial variations at 36 millime. This is the 126,000 series. It edges out the Explorer at 36 millm in trading value. So yes, a 36 mm, one of many dials, Oyster Perpetual, is more soughta than a Rolex Explorer by the numbers. If I had to make a guess why the Rolex Explorer doesn't perform as well as some people might think, it's probably because it doesn't appeal to a casual watch buyer that is looking to acquire a Rolex. I mean, someone that's going for a Rolex, if they're more casual in their interest of the brand, they might buy it just more for the show. And a Rolex Explorer is pretty understated. I mean, if you think about the Rolex Explorer, it doesn't have a fluted bezel. It doesn't have anything that's over the top in its presentation. There's nothing that I would ever say is ostentatious. It is versatile to maybe a fault and that might be holding it back. And then you look at pretty much every other Explorer reference going back. It even underperforms compared to other Rolex Steel Sports models. Even the Explorer 2, if you go from like almost every generation all the way back, every coinciding reference from the Explorer 2 seems to outperform that of the Explorer family. So, there is a retail consideration there, but it goes to show that the Rolex Explorer, despite all the acclaim that it has in the watch collecting community, maybe isn't getting the flowers that it deserves and ending up on as many people's wrist as we think. So, now we move to watch number two. And for this, I want to look at the Yacht Master. Now, I'm not speaking about the RLX Titanium. That watch is correctly rated if not overrated potentially because it is trading way over retail. That watch is amazing. But I want to focus mostly on the Rolesium models with the blue hands and the mix of precious metal with stainless steel. So the OPM first released in 1992 and it has had his ups and downs in its existence. I wouldn't say it's ever found its proper footing until the RLX Titanium came out. That seemed to be the first time when that was released because of the titanium aspect being brought with the design where something really did take off in popularity. For the most part, it's going to fall deeply in the shadow of the Submariner. And it's not a perfect one to one of a comparison, but I think there are a lot of people that will cross shop between a Submariner and a Yacht Masteraster. Now, my case for the Yacht Master being underappreciated rests on several points. Number one is that the collection has been thinned as there's no longer a Yacht Master 2. So, we're seeing Rolex themselves recognize that maybe this collection doesn't get as much attention on the Yacht Master 2. Completely different proposition as an idea versus the traditional Yacht Master. But that's one point there. Then secondly, given the abandonment of 40 millimeters as a size for the Submariner, the Yacht Masteraster to me has become increasingly compelling for those that are looking for multiple sizes of something that follows the design format of a dive watch. Now, it does have a different water resistance rating than the Submariner, but there still are a lot of the same day-to-day principles that are brought forth by the Yacht Master. I'm looking specifically at the 40 and 37. 37 is an exotic case size and I think it is going to overlap with a lot of wrists and if you wanted a midsize dive watch from Rolex I mean tutor you have plenty to choose from but in the broader crown ecosystem this is an amazing choice for getting more of that midsize dive watch where Rolex doesn't really play much in that game anymore. Then we talk about relium platinum being utilized at this price range. This is something that typically as a metal, platinum is usually held in very high regard. But then you get down to where the trading value is for a watch that has stainless steel and platinum as part of the metal composition. You're going to find that that watch is going to trade for less or roughly the same as many of the stainless steel offerings from Rolex in the Submariner form. What I found was pretty interesting is a standard sub date trades for roughly the same as a mixed precious metal offering from Rolex. While the Starbucks trades for $800 more, so even adding to this idea, the 40mm rlesium does trade over retail yet on a percentage basis significantly less than other sports peers from Rolex. Other than the Explorer 2-tone, this is the most attainable precious metal mix sports watch on the secondary market, even at retail pricing. And then as one final consideration I'll just throw out there is that the Yacht Master look is more influential than many people give it credit for. I don't know about you, but I see this raised graduation scale bezel style copied all the time from micro brands on up. And it's something that we probably don't talk about a lot, but I just look at it and then recognize, yeah, that's a Rolex Yacht Master bezel. In a very short period of time, this has become one of the most influential design styles for a watch of the entire genre. And I don't think this whole collection gets the appreciation that it deserves. Now, for some of you, you might be scratching your head because of the inclusion of this next model. Here we have the Rolex 1908. Now, when the 1908 first came out in 2023, it didn't cause the same immediate buzz as we saw this past year with the Land Dweller, though it certainly was wellreceived compared to the outgoing Cholini at that time. The 1908 serves as the high-end dress genre for the brand which competes on a different level compared to the robust sport upside of pieces like the Datejust even and the Land Dweller and Day Date with it 100 meters of water resistance in comparison here 50 m of water resistance. So this leads to the watch competing with the likes of high herology brands which is a pretty fierce level of competition that Rolex is going up against. That said, the 1908 to me still seems pretty underappreciated for a few reasons, and a lot of this is more recent developments. This is a very nent model for Rolex, but they're starting to figure out how they want to position this. Now, one is that it's been overlooked by the recent buzz around different models. 2023 it did get some love, but compared to like the Land Dweller, for example, it it's not something that people talk about over and over again, but they've done a nice job with positioning this as a way better answer to what the Chelini was hopefully trying to figure out years ago. But it also in comparison to what else is out there, it sits at the bottom of the Rolex page. And I talked about all of the elements of Rolex's site. I tried to derive meaning from that. Now, some people might disagree, but the fact that it's at the very bottom tells me that it's not something that many people are necessarily considering. In addition, it's a rare circumstance when a Rolex watch is factory offered on a leather strap. And further, despite only being precious metal, it is arguably the most valuepacked fully precious metal watch from the brand. Now, some people will rightfully say, well, that is on a strap. So, let's look at it on the Setimo bracelet, which retails for $35,900. was a good chunk of change, no question about it. But a watch that I absolutely love and was one of my favorite releases of 2025, maybe my favorite release from 2025 from Rolex when I just put it on my wrist for the first time. Now, that completely transformed the design. And I think when adding a bracelet to this style, it differentiates this watch from nearly every other watch of this category and allows Rolex to be Rolex. Because to me, Rolex and what they do with their bracelets, how it's presented, how it feels, this is in more of an alignment with what I think somebody might want if they are going to look in the direction of 1908. But then get back to the subject at hand, how this is actually one of the most attainable all gold watches for Rolex, but also stacks up pretty well to the competition compared to a Submariner date gold on bracelet that's retailing for $44,600 to the Daydate 40 millimeter in yellow gold. So, same metal type, $44,200. Then a Sky Dweller. Now, you are dealing with a larger case, elevated complication, but that's going to sell in yellow gold for $56,200. The closest comparison that you're going to have, and the only thing that's going to undercut it is a ladies date just in yellow gold, which is going to be around that $32,000 range. So, on a bracelet, the 1908 is the most valuepacked package in all gold. all gold bracelet and a watch for men from Rolex in the contemporary catalog which I've never heard someone necessarily say that when we think of the 1908 we think high-end this is the upper end of the Rolex catalog but have you ever thought about it that way when I did the analysis I'm like wait that's pretty interesting uh when you think about it if you want an all gold watch from Rolex and think on the Satimo bracelet it actually is one of the coolest combos some might argue when you're looking at the actual amount of gold that is used this is one of the reasons why the 1908 is probably not going to be as expensive. But all of this aside, like when you're looking at someone's wrist and they're wearing a Rolex watch and it's in gold, are you thinking like what is the volume of gold in the case? Like that's not something that crosses my mind and I don't think it crosses the mind of anybody that would ever look at a watch on someone's wrist, especially a Rolex. Now, further, the 7140 caliber is a step up from other calibers from Rolex. It's slim, has a sliy hairspr, corner G escapement, and also a visible see-through case back. And in all, I think the 1908 is still in its infancy. So part of the reason why I'm putting it here is because there is a lot of room to grow and where this collection can go. And I see it getting more popular, especially with the recent developments in the last 12 months. Now, for years, the Air King and the Milgaus would duke it out back and forth on what was the outsider of the Rolex steel sports genre. And the Milgaus always had its fans. Now, the Air King, I'm sure it has its fans, but we don't hear about them as much, and that's why the Air King is the fourth watch on this list. So, the Air King has the history to go along with it. We can go back to 1945, and it predates pretty much every other sports model from the brand. you name it. Explorer, Submariner, GMT Master, Daytona, and it only gets a fraction of the admiration and fanfare. And it has a pretty cool story to go along with it with all the Air Series models with the Air King being the lone survivor of that Air series long term. It is only definitively bested by age with the Oyster Perpetual in the contemporary lineup of Rolex. The Datej right there with it, but the Oyster Perpetual really set the standard for all models to follow. Now, I talked about the 1908 being at the very bottom of all watches from Rolex, but if you go to the sports side of the catalog, the professional series, the Air King will be at the very bottom. Further, it's only bested by the Explorer 36 mm when it comes to attainability at retail for a steel sports model from Rolex. The Air King at 40 mm is $7,750 at retail at the time of recording this video, whereas the Explorer 36 mm is $7,500. Then when you factor in the secondary market, the Air King is one of a few exceptions for a stainless steel sports watch from Rolex that trades below retail. And I think a lot of that has come down also to the recent availability of the Explorer now going back to 40 mm. The Air King is also quirky. It's one of these models now that with the departure of the Milgaus in the lineup, it fills a void for those that are looking for something that doesn't just scream Rolex and is not taking itself too seriously, but is still very much a professional watch. It's the only Rolex model in the lineup now with two different colors on the Rolex logo at 12 on the dial. And it's one of a smaller group of pieces that has a colored second hand and finally has that distinct dial numeral set with those enlarged minutes. And when we talk about pilot aviation watches from Rolex, we talk about the GMT Master family. That's what dominates. But the Air King has a lot of history in that regard. It predates the GMT Master and also functionally speaking is very much in alignment with some of the principles of a pilot watch. Orientation triangle, larger minute track on the outside with those numerals. There's a lot of times where people probably don't even think of the Air King as a pilot watch. They just think of like, yeah, that's that different weird looking Explorer. And I think that's selling this watch very short. So now we get to the final watch on this list. Now Rolex has several model families that could be suitable for those with the connection to the diving innovation that the brand has in the mid 20th century. You of course have the Submariner, the model that needs no introduction and is enjoyed by the masses with many owners likely not being aware or even caring about the contributions to the dive watch history that was brought forth by it. And then you have the deep sea, a make no mistake piece made for the extreme with dimensions and water resistance to match the approach. And then finally splitting the difference of these two ideas is the 43mm Sea Dweller. So the Sea Dweller Red in stainless steel. This is the reference 126600. It's my final mention for a watch on this list for a few reasons. Now one is the point that involves what we discussed earlier. It sits in a sweet spot of wearable luxury appeal without fully abandoning this tool watch premise. The Sea Dweller at 43mm certainly is a size up. However, it is also still relatively wearable for a decent segment of the watch buying public. And we talk all the time about smaller wrist, smaller wrist, smaller wrist, but there is a whole segment of people out there that want a larger watch that is wearable. It's not going to be a complete brick on the wrist like the Deep Sea Challenge. This is where the Sea Dweller, I think, can shine for certain people out there. Then you're looking at the price and positioning. The 126600 retails for 13,750 at the time of recording. But then when looking at the secondary market, it trades for $11,447. So this is a drop of 16.7% of value, and it makes it one of the single best chances to obtain a Rolex steel sports watch at retail. Further, the sub and the sub date and steel all trade above the Sea Dweller despite this discrepancy in retail pricing. And then another reason why I wanted to mention this watch is because it sits in a nice pocket for case size for a certain segment of buyers. It's one of the few examples where you'll see a case size being specifically offered by one model family. Now, there are some other rare exceptions like 39 mm with the 1908, 44 mm with the DeepC, but the 43mm case size, it's a nice sweet spot. You can decide to wear this more as an everyday piece. And for those that maybe have a larger wrist and want something with more presence, they like the diving heritage that is brought forth and just want something that's different, that is where the Sea Dweller shines. And at 43 mm and its position in the market from pricing and consideration, I would say it's one of the most underrated Rolex watches in the contemporary lineup. But all right guys, that's my video and my take on some of the most underappreciated Rolex watches in the catalog in 2026. Do you guys agree with my takes? Do you disagree? Is there another watch that you think should have been included instead of one of the watches that I had on this list? Leave some comments down below. I know some of these choices might get some people saying, "No, I think this is better. This is better." You know, you can argue it out in the comments. Just wanted to give my take here. If you did enjoy the video, please give it a thumbs up, subscribe, hit the bell icon. Really do appreciate that. Also, check out teddy.com. Daddy balls.com is an authorized dealer for over 35 brands. Every purchase from our website comes with quick and fast fulfillment, dedicated customer support, a full factory warranty for all the products that we offer. I know there's a lot of different places you can buy a watch nowadays, but we'd absolutely love to have your business. Allows us to keep doing what we're doing here. We love what we do. But guys, thank you again so much for watching. Be well, and I will see you all very soon.