How To Score A Rolex Without Burning A Hole In Your Pocket?

Bollywood scion Adar Jain married Alekha Advani in February this year, he chose to wear the Rolex Datejust 41 Wimbledon. This classic Rollie is the outcome of the brand’s association with the legendary tennis tournament, and distinct features include the sunray finish slate dial that displays. Roman numerals with a touch of Wimbledon green. Given that it’s a special edition, the waitlist is long (if it’s even open right now).

And it adds serious cred to Jain’s standing as a watch collector. Owning a Rolex is the ultimate flex in watch collecting, says Neha S. Bajpai, an Auckland-based watch specialist and former Media & Editorial Director, Wrist Check. “It’s legendary, exclusive, and built to last. It’s got history (first waterproof watch, first self-winding W movement), a killer design that barely changes, and some of the models so rare they feel like a cheat code to status. The brand’s ties to icons like Paul Newman and James Bond make it even more desirable.”

Combine all these attributes, and you have found the perfect ‘wedding watch’. Whether it’s a gift or a personal purchase, it’s worth it because of the return on investment. According to WatchChart.com, the biggest (and most trusted) source on watch sales data on the internet, Rollies currently sell at 13.7% above retail prices in the secondary market.

“It’s one of the few watch brands that is perceived to hold value over a long time,” says Punit Mehta, co-founder of Indian watch platform, The Hour Markers. “With limited production, celeb endorsements, and auction records that keep breaking, Rolex isn’t just a watch—it’s a cultural phenomenon,” Bajpai concludes. So, how does one acquire any of the brand’s grail watches? Especially if it’s for your wedding? We sat down with Bajpai and Mehta to get some answers.

How to Get on Rolex's Waiting List

What you need to know is that the watches with the biggest cachet, the Submariner and the Daytona, often aren’t even on display in-store. Rolex, it seems, uses the Hermès formula for accessibility. Bajpai says you must earn the right to purchase an icon. “Develop a relationship with a boutique and build purchase history,” adds Mehta. It shows both intent and passion. Of course, not every Rollie requires that you get on a waitlist. Mehta suggests that brides and grooms buying their first watch go for the Datejust, a chronometer first released in 1945, and easily recognisable by its now iconic fluted bezel. “It’s a quintessential Rolex watch in every way. And it can be bought in-store,” he says.

You May Also Like: These Are The Timepieces To Gift Your Man If He’s A Watch Enthusiast

Perfect Models

Mehta strongly recommends buying the Datejust if it’s your first Rollie. “It’s an absolute classic, and ideal for men and women,” he says. Here are many things to like about it, right from its unisex design to the fact that it is the first ever self-winding chronometer watch to come with an automatically changing date window. While the design has remained a constant over the last 60 years, a useful addition over the years has been the Cyclops magnifying lens over the dial. One of the advantages of buying it as a gift for your husband-to-be is that it’s easy to share the Datejust.

And perhaps add another Rollie to the collective collection? Bajpai, too, recommends the Datejust (the 36mm version with the Jubilee bracelet) for brides, but suggests the Oyster Perpetual 41 for the groom. “If you want a Rolex that’s stylish, low-key, and effortlessly cool, the Oyster Perpetual 41 in blue is the one. It’s clean, no-fuss, and goes with everything—perfect for daily wear. Plus, it doesn’t come with the insane hype (or waitlist) of a Submariner. The blue dial pops just enough without being flashy, and the 41mm case size feels modern yet classic,” she says. This watch, too, is built on Rolex innovation. When it was first launched in 1926, the Oyster was the first truly water and dust proof watch in the world and soon became a favourite with divers and adventurers junkies.

The watch runs on a pathbreaking movement— The world’s first free rotor self-winding

movement. There is so much packed into this excellent timepiece, but it offers more. It offers cache. And the opportunity to regularly wear a symbol of your love and a milestone life event, often.

Why (and Where) to Buy a Pre-Loved Piece

One of the easiest ways to buy a grail watch is through the secondary market. It might also be the quickest, if you want that Rollie before your wedding. If you're lucky, you might even score a fresh-to-market piece with the complete box and papers, says Bajpai. And with Rolex raising prices in 2025, buying a pre-owned watch may be a smart move. With over a million Rollies out in circulation, the secondary market will offer great access to timepieces that offer great value, says Mehta. “For example, you might be able to buy a Submariner at the price it was three years ago. This is great value,” says Mehta.

Buying a pre-owned watch is all about confidence, says Bajpai. “That comes from doing your homework. Honestly, the research phase is probably the most fun part! A solid rule of thumb? ‘Buy the seller’. Sure, you can score a watch from a private seller, but you need to know your stuff. Vintage dealers, on the other hand, have the expertise to back up their pieces. When inspecting, look out for scratches, dents, or any crystal chips. And don’t forget the dial—a damaged lacquer might mean water damage. A few battle scars? Personal—just make sure it hasn’t been through too much,” she says.

Bajpai recommends checking international platforms such as Wrist Check and Watch Box, which offer full transparency and authenticate watches before selling them. Closer to home, look at Tata CLiQ Luxury’s Timeless Icons boutique or Ethos’ SecondMovement platform, both of which sell carefully authenticated watches.

This story appears in Manifest India’s Issue 02. Subscribe here for more stories like this.