There are few things in life that are as precious as time, and it takes masterful skill to balance profession, family, and recreation. Keeping time, therefore takes craft and experience, and there is no better wrist companion than a Rolex timepiece. Ticking with masterful precision and a beauty to behold, every Rolex wristwatch reminds you of the value of time with each glance. Not only in those purposeful moments when you lean in to capture the exact time of day, but even in those moments that it slips into your field of vision. It has to carry the weight of meaning. 

The four watches presented here for our vision of the distinguished gentleman are all very different, and will appeal to a variety of personalities. Running the gamut from watches designed for performance to dressier, more formal timepieces, more than one of these Rolex Classic and Professional models will very likely appeal to you. These watches represent the best in fine Swiss watchmaking and can take a super dad from work to play at any time of the day.

Rolex Oyster Perpetual Explorer II

Created in 1971, the Explorer II is heir to the privileged relationship that has long united Rolex and exploration. Where the Explorer was born at the top of the world and developed in collaboration with legendary mountaineers, the Explorer II was designed for trailblazers exploring the depths of our earth, becoming the watch of choice for polar explorers, speleologists and volcanologists. The Explorer II is a robust and reliable watch designed for exploration and built to resist extreme environments, making this the choice of the undaunted man who is ever-ready for his next challenge.

Rolex Oyster Perpetual Explorer II in Oystersteel with an engraved 24-hour bezel, white dial and an Oyster bracelet

All-weather reliability and unbeatable functionality are the calling cards of the Explorer II. It is waterproof to 100 metres (330 feet) and is extremely robust, thanks in part to the bezel being crafted out of Rolex’s proprietary stainless steel alloy, Oystersteel. Spelunking may not have much to do with the contemporary struggles of balancing work and family life but the Explorer II does allow you to master day and night, even when nature withholds that information. 

This also makes the Explorer II immediately recognisable. The fixed Oystersteel bezel with 24-hour graduations and accompanying orange 24-hour hand are details unique to this model. This dedicated hand circles the dial in 24 hours rather than the usual 12, pointing to the bezel and its 24-hour engraved markers. This function enables the wearer to distinguish the hours of the day from the hours of the night, an essential feature for those who venture into environments where darkness reigns supreme – such as in the depths of caves, or where the sun never sets – like the polar regions in summer. The watch may have been built to indicate day and night in the absence of daylight but it can serve as a proper second time zone indicator too. 

Take a closer look at the Rolex Oyster Perpetual Explorer II

Rolex Oyster Perpetual 

Rolex built its impressive reputation on the original Oyster, the world’s first waterproof wristwatch, which debuted in 1926. All contemporary Oyster Perpetual watches are directly descended from that first watch, and perfectly suited for the distinguished family man. The Oyster Perpetual range is wide and varied, encompassing many styles and sizes, which makes it perfect for fathers who want to express their individuality with their timepieces. Displaying hours, minutes and seconds, made exclusively of Oystersteel and featuring a sophisticated finish, these are chronometer wristwatches in their purest form. The Oyster Perpetual is further enhanced by the accompanying Oyster bracelet, the most recognisable in all fine watchmaking.

Rolex Oyster Perpetual 41 in Oystersteel, fitted with a bright black dial and an Oyster bracelet

Few time-only watches can turn heads the way the quintessential Oyster Perpetual 41 can. By day, the 18 ct white gold hour markers and hands are outstanding but by night, the highly legible Chromalight display with long-lasting blue luminescence on the same elements transforms the watch into a paragon of legibility and style. If you had to imagine the ideal daily timekeeper for the hassle-free dad, completely free of any obligations or preconceptions, this 41 mm model is it. As a watch, it does not lock you into any particular perceived lifestyle, while imparting a sense of gravitas.

Despite the classical good looks, the Oyster Perpetual 41 has claimed the popularity prize by virtue of stupendous horological value. It manages this impressive feat while being the global reference for time-only fine watchmaking. This is only partly explained by its reliance on calibre 3230, a movement at the forefront of watchmaking technology, which endows the watch with its Superlative Chronometer rating. The mechanical movement, developed entirely by Rolex, distinguishes itself with its +2/-2 per day accuracy rating, and its approximately 70-hour power reserve. These are the result of key Rolex innovations such as the paramagnetic blue Parachrom balance spring, Paraflex shock absorbers, Chronergy escapement and the Perpetual rotor.

The impressive waterproofness of 100 metres (330 feet) adds more heft here, elevating the Oyster Perpetual 41 head-and-shoulders above its peers.

Experience the Oyster Perpetual 41

Rolex Oyster Perpetual Yacht-Master

Launched in 1992 for navigators and skippers, the stylish Yacht-Master is a Professional-category watch that provides a perfect blend of functionality and nautical style, making it equally at home on and off the water. The Yacht-Master’s sleek and distinguished appearance is matched by the high performance and innovation of Rolex watchmaking. Every Yacht-Master is both COSC-certified and also a Superlative Chronometer. The Superlative Chronometer certification applies to the entire watch, not just the movement, and indicates that it has successfully undergone a series of specific final controls by Rolex in its own laboratories according to its own criteria, in addition to the official COSC certification of its movement. These tests ensure the -2/+2 accuracy specifications are met under real-life conditions at both full power and when the mainspring is almost fully wound down. All these factors make the Yacht-Master the perfect option for both ocean explorers and the captains of the family. 

Rolex Oyster Perpetual Yacht-Master 40 in Oystersteel and 950 platinum with slate dial and an Oyster bracelet

In this Yacht-Master 40, the legendary Rolesium combination of precious materials takes centre stage; while Rolesor features Oystersteel and gold, Rolesium sees the meeting of Oystersteel and 950 platinum. Rolesium is not just exclusive to Rolex but to the Yacht-Master range, and has been that way since its debut in 1999. 

The bidirectional rotatable 60-minute graduated bezel defines the Yacht-Master, and goes a long way towards establishing its seaworthy credentials. The raised polished graduations and numerals can be used to track elapsed time between two markers at sea or to denote shifts for racing crews. Overall, the bezel is simply extraordinary, especially in platinum, because it is unmatched in fine watchmaking. This is the sort of detail that is exclusively for the wearer, allowing fathers to remind themselves of what is truly important to them. 

Hidden from sight but no less important is the innovative automatic movement, calibre 3235. It shares many of the same characteristics as calibre 3230, including its supreme accuracy and power reserve ratings.

Deep dive into the Rolex Oyster Perpetual Yacht-Master 40

Rolex Oyster Perpetual Day-Date

When it was launched in 1956, the Day-Date was already the ultimate watch of prestige in professional reliability, functionality and build-quality, delivered in the most elegant of forms. It is famous for its iconic arc-shaped window at 12 o’clock spelling out the day of the week in full, which was previously unheard of in watchmaking. Today, the combination of the calendar function and its 100 metre (330 feet) waterproofness makes the Day-Date one of the world’s most recognisable and robust dress watches. The President bracelet, with its semi-circular three-piece links, was created especially for the launch of the Day-Date and represents the ultimate in refinement and comfort and is always made of carefully selected precious metals. The resulting prestige factor of this collection is a big draw for the high-powered family patriarch.

Rolex Oyster Perpetual Day-Date 40 in 18 ct white gold with bright blue dial and a President bracelet

This Day-Date 40 in 18 ct white gold showcases the fact that the collection is only available in precious metals. The epitome of a classic dress watch, the Day-Date is the timepiece of choice for persons of the highest distinction. The most prestigious Rolex watch, it has appeared on the wrists of the world’s political leaders, directors and visionaries. This included, famously, US President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1965, leading the Day-Date to be called the President’s watch. It is equipped with the President bracelet, which debuted with the watch, and has been seen on the wrist of other US Presidents, including Nixon and Reagan.

Beneath the dial, the automatic calibre 3255 also distinguishes the Day-Date from all other Rolex watches. We have written about the superb movement previously, but it is important to remember that only Day-Date models have the privilege of carrying it. 

Discover the Rolex Oyster Perpetual Day-Date 40

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