【New York, US】How to Buy Your First Rolex – 8 Tips From Moses the Jeweler

by

Editor’s Note

This article offers practical advice for first-time Rolex buyers, highlighting popular models like the Datejust, GMT “Batman” and “Pepsi,” and the Day-Date as standout choices.

Moses the Jeweler knows all the tricks to buying your first Rolex
Best First Rolex

Moses Says:

“If you’re buying your first Rolex, you probably want it to be a statement piece that everyone knows. You can go with a Rolex Date or Datejust. Eventually, you can trade up to a nice Rolex GMT. I always recommend GMTs like the ‘Batman’ and ‘Pepsi.’ Those are fun pieces to rock. You can also go with the ‘Tony Soprano,’ the 36 millimeter Day-Date.”
“Don’t just wear something because somebody else thinks it’s cool. Find what you like and wear it because you’re proud to wear it.”
A Realistic Budget

You can get yourself a classic Datejust 36 millimeter for around $5,000. If you push up to $7,000 or $8,000, you can get a nice Submariner from the ’80s or ’90s.

A brand new 41-millimeter Datejust with a factory diamond dial is $17,000. A two-tone rose gold with a chocolate dial is $20,000. That’s the most you should pay for a Datejust. For a GMT, the “Pepsi” is the most expensive. You should not pay more than $23,000 for a GMT. You can get a discontinued vintage GMT for around $7,500. And then Day-Dates should be from $10,000 to $50,000 for the rarer ones.

Key Differences Between Styles

All Day-Dates come in solid 18-karat white gold, yellow gold, rose gold, or platinum. They have two windows on the dial showing the day and date. The Datejust just has a date window on the dial, hence the name. They come either in full steel or two-tone silver and gold. GMTs and Submariners are considered sport models. They’re more casual.

The 26-millimeter and the 31-millimeter dials [are better] for the ladies. The first male size used to be the 36-millimeter. Now, the stigma is that men need to wear a 41-millimeter because it’s bigger. The 41 was introduced back in 2007. Before that, men were wearing 36s. The bigger the watch dial is, the more expensive, especially when it comes to Rolex.

You have two different bracelet styles, the jubilee and the oyster. The oyster is a three-link bracelet with a flatter surface and the jubilee is a five-link bracelet considered to be a little more dressy. Most jubilee models go for more than the oyster. I think the oyster bracelets are a little more masculine.

When it comes to dials, chocolate, green, and blue are huge.

On new Rolexes, the bracelets are heavier, the case is done better, and the movements are obviously more advanced, but Rolexes are made to last. That’s why you’re seeing Rolexes from the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s still going for five, six, and seven grand. These watches were selling for two grand 20 years ago. It’s cool to see that those models still go up with time because there’s such a big demand.

Full article: View original |
⏰ Published on: January 04, 2026