A Complete Guide to Rolex Stainless Steel Watches
Rolex stainless steel sports watches continue to be a highly desired and oftentimes a very difficult watch to find through a retailer. What makes it so popular? Let’s dive into some of the popular models and go even deeper into the material.
Popular Stainless Steel Rolex Watches
Keep reading to learn more about popular Rolex stainless steel watch models
> Datejust
> Daytona
> Rolex’s Steel of Choice: 904L Stainless Steel
> Frequently Asked Questions About Stainless Steel Rolex Watches
Datejust
The Datejust made its debut in 1945 as a 40th anniversary celebration. Since then, it has grown to be a staple of the Rolex brand and hasn’t had to change very much since its creation over 70 years. The Datejust was also the first watch to feature the Jubilee bracelet, which has since become a popular choice for many Rolex enthusiasts. Available in Rolex’s signature stainless steel, the Datejust is a luxury watch worthy of any collection.
Features of this watch:
- Style: Casual, Dress
- Gender: Mens
- Dial Color: White
- Case & Bracelet Material: Stainless Steel
- Buckle Type: Folding Buckle
Submariner
Hands down one of the most popular Rolex watches, the Submariner is designed for divers. The watch launched in 1953 and has continued to improve so that divers can go deeper without sacrificing their wristwatch. Like most other Rolex watches, the Submariner is available in stainless steel, making it a durable watch that will resist damage from water and the hazards that come with an active lifestyle.
Features of this watch:
- Style: Casual, Dress
- Gender: Mens
- Dial Color: Silver
- Case & Bracelet Material: Stainless Steel & Yellow Gold
- Buckle Type: Folding Buckle
GMT-Master II
The natural evolution of the GMT-Master, the GMT-Master II made its appearance in 1982. This watch straddled modern design while also keeping the favored features of its predecessor. It included updates such as adjustable hour hands, which allowed the wearer to display two separate time zones within the dial, and the ability to adjust the bezel for a third. Combine these complications with the sophisticated look of the GMT-Master II, and a stainless steel case and bracelet, and it’s a luxury watch designed to be worn as a daily watch.
Features of this watch:
- Style: Casual
- Gender: Mens
- Dial Color: Black
- Case & Bracelet Material: Stainless Steel
- Buckle Type: Folding Buckle
Shop Other GMT-Master II Watches
Rolex Oyster Perpetual
The Oyster Perpetual is one of the most iconic classic Rolex designs. It made its mark in history in 1926 when it was the first waterproof wristwatch produced and was worn while swimming across the English Channel by Mercedes Gleitze. The 26 year-old swam the channel wearing the original Rolex Oyster, spending more than 10 hours in the water, after her swim she declared the watch was still working perfectly. While the design has changed slightly since its first release, the Oyster is still one of the most well-known watch cases. On the pre-owned market, you can find case sizes from 24mm – 41mm in a wide variety of dial colors, hour markers, and bezel styles.
Features of this watch:
- Style: Casual, Dress
- Gender: Ladies
- Dial Color: Green
- Case & Bracelet Material: Stainless Steel
- Buckle Type: Folding Buckle
Shop Other Rolex Oyster Perpetual Watches
Daytona
An incredibly popular and versatile model is the Daytona in steel. The model has hit legendary status, getting its name from the Florida Daytona Speedway. It became popular after being spotted on Paul Newman’s wrist, making his model one of the most highly sought after pieces. Paul Newman’s “Paul Newman Daytona” sold a few years ago at a Phillips Auction, for a record-breaking $17.8 million.
Features of this watch:
- Style: Casual
- Gender: Mens
- Dial Color: Black
- Case & Bracelet Material: Stainless steel
- Buckle Type: Folding buckle
Rolex’s Steel of Choice: 904L Stainless Steel
Wondering what kind of stainless steel Rolex uses? To begin, they use their own proprietary blend called Oystersteel, which you can read more about here. The primary metal used in Oystersteel is 904L stainless steel, which is a highly durable steel and more corrosion resistant than other variations of the metal. Typically, watchmakers use 316L steel, which is slightly more vulnerable to corrosion than 904L stainless steel. 904L is harder than its counterpart as well. This also makes it much harder to work with, but in the case of Rolex, they’ve mastered forming the metal into cases and bracelets.
The Oyster bracelet is also made of the Oystersteel, making it a favorite to have on the sports models. More recent models have also seen the return of the popular Jubilee bracelet in Oystersteel. Notably, the Rolex GMT-Master II “Batman” stainless steel was re-released as the 126710BLNR on a steel Jubilee bracelet.
Over the years as Rolex has continued to perfect their designs, their materials have also improved. Rather than using the original aluminum bezels which are prone to color fading, Rolex upgraded their models to feature a long-lasting ceramic bezel. These upgrades have continued to make a stainless steel Rolex a highly desirable collector’s timepiece—and something that imitators have tried endlessly to copy.
Ready to start your search for a stainless steel Rolex? Browse the The 1916 Company collection of pre-owned Rolex steel Daytonas, Submariners, Datejust and GMT-Master II watches here.
Related Reading:
- Rolex History: Everything You Need to Know About Rolex Watches
- Everyday Favorite Steel Watches
- The Ultimate Rolex Collection: 13 Must Have Models
- Rolex Daytona vs. Submariner Comparison
- Rolex Datejust Turn-O-Graph: The T-Bird Flies Again
- History of the Rolex Kermit: The 50th Anniversary Submariner
Frequently Asked Questions About Stainless Steel Rolex Watches
Many watch collectors, enthusiasts, and curious people have questions about stainless steel Rolex watches. Keep reading to learn more about Rolex watches in stainless steel, their history, and how you can acquire one of your own.
Does Rolex Make A Stainless Steel Day-Date?
No, the brand has not started producing the Day-Date as a stainless steel model. The Day-Date, often referred to as the President, is one of the ultimate watches of prestige. The model has been produced in Everose, platinum, white and yellow gold. There has been one stainless steel day-date that was a prototype but was never put into production. This rare piece came up for auction at Philips a few years ago.
How Much Does A Stainless Steel Rolex Cost?
The price of any watch, including a steel Rolex, varies greatly depending on a few factors. The first thing to look at is if the watch is new from an authorized retailer or if it’s for sale on the pre-owned watch market.
The current The 1916 Company pre-owned market sees stainless steel Rolex models cost between $3,250, for a 1983 ladies steel Oyster Perpetual, up to over $50,000 for a vintage stainless steel Daytona, reference 6262. Pre-owned watch pricing also takes into consideration if the model has an original box and papers, as well as age, model, and any precious metals.
Why Are There No Stainless Steel Rolex Watches?
While hard to find by walking into an authorized retailer, there are plenty of stainless steel Rolexes on the secondary market. The 1916 Company currently has over 100 different models including stainless steel Daytonas, stainless steel Datejusts and stainless steel GMT-Master II watches.
These models may be difficult to acquire because their designs are timeless. The stainless steel Rolex Submariner was first released in the 1950s and while it has seen a few changes over the years, the general design has stayed the same. Anniversaries have seen releases of new colors to the line, such as the ever-popular steel Hulk in green.
Similarly, the Rolex stainless steel GMT-Master II was released in the 1950s and has only continued to get better with age. First designed for pilots, the watches have become a favorite of many collectors who enjoy the GMT feature and the many different bezel colors. From the GMT-Master II Pepsi to the Root Beer and Batman, there’s a bezel for anyone.
Updated March 30, 2022