How Much Is a Rolex? Prices for Every Collection (October 2026)
The short answer
A new Rolex starts at $6,200 at retail in the US in 2026 (the Oyster Perpetual 28). Popular steel models such as the Submariner, GMT-Master II and Datejust 41 retail between about $9,000 and $12,000. Precious-metal pieces like the Day-Date run past $50,000.
The retail price is often not the price you actually pay. Steel sports models are hard to get from authorized dealers, so most buyers end up on the pre-owned market. Across the 287 Rolex watches listed on Tempo in October 2026, the median asking price is $15,499. The range runs from $3,900 for a 1970 ladies' Oyster Perpetual to $290,000 for a 1953 Explorer.
| Asking price | Rolex listings on Tempo |
|---|---|
| Under $5,000 | 8 |
| $5,000–$9,999 | 55 |
| $10,000–$14,999 | 77 |
| $15,000–$19,999 | 52 |
| $20,000–$29,999 | 52 |
| $30,000–$49,999 | 30 |
| $50,000 and up | 13 |
Nearly half of all listings (129 of 287) fall between $10,000 and $20,000. That is roughly where a modern steel Datejust, Submariner or GMT-Master II sits on the pre-owned market today.
What is the cheapest Rolex?
The cheapest new Rolex is the Oyster Perpetual 28 at $6,200 US retail. The Oyster Perpetual 36, a common men's size, retails at $6,750. Both are simple time-only watches in steel, but they still have the same Oyster case and in-house movement as Rolex's sports models.
On the pre-owned market you can spend less, mostly by going vintage. The lowest asking prices on Tempo this month:
| Watch | Year | Size class | Asking price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ladies' Oyster Perpetual, ref. 6618 | 1970 | Ladies' | $3,900 |
| Oyster Perpetual, ref. 176200 | 2010s | Ladies' | $4,499 |
| Air-King Precision, ref. 5500 | 1960s | Men's | $4,499 |
| Datejust, ref. 1601 | 1970s | Men's | $4,999 |
| Oyster Perpetual, ref. 1501 | 1970s | Men's | $4,999 |
The cheapest modern men's-size Rolex on Tempo is an Oyster Perpetual 34, ref. 114200, from 2020 at $6,149. For a current-generation piece, budget around $7,500 for an Oyster Perpetual from the last 15 years. A steel Datejust in excellent condition starts at about $9,500.
The cheapest Rolex is not always the best value. A vintage watch under $5,000 will usually need a service soon, and a Rolex service typically costs several hundred dollars or more (see the FAQ below).
Rolex prices by collection
The Oyster Perpetual is the cheapest Rolex collection on the pre-owned market (median $6,324), and the Day-Date is the most expensive of the core lines (median $41,000). The table covers every collection with at least three listings on Tempo in October 2026. "Modern" means current-style six-digit references, roughly 2000 onward.
| Collection | Listings | Median asking | Modern median | Lowest | Highest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oyster Perpetual | 32 | $6,324 | $10,485 | $3,900 | $18,300 |
| Air-King | 4 | $6,874 | $8,900 | $4,499 | $10,300 |
| Datejust | 87 | $11,999 | $14,499 | $4,999 | $25,900 |
| Explorer II | 7 | $12,500 | $12,950 | $8,889 | $27,499 |
| Submariner | 39 | $15,699 | $15,700 | $9,900 | $79,000 |
| Yacht-Master | 9 | $16,900 | $17,600 | $6,749 | $28,500 |
| Sea-Dweller | 16 | $17,249 | $14,999 | $11,699 | $99,000 |
| GMT-Master / GMT-Master II | 34 | $20,525 | $20,525 | $11,999 | $65,000 |
| Yacht-Master II | 3 | $22,499 | $22,499 | $18,000 | $41,499 |
| Sky-Dweller | 17 | $24,900 | $24,900 | $19,499 | $45,999 |
| Daytona | 17 | $33,900 | $32,900 | $18,249 | $79,000 |
| Day-Date | 14 | $41,000 | $53,999 | $11,499 | $279,000 |
Two patterns stand out. Vintage sports models often cost more than modern ones: the median vintage Submariner (1950s–1980s) is asking $22,450, against $15,700 for a modern one. Gold models go the other way: 1970s and 1980s Day-Dates start under $15,000, while a modern Day-Date 40 asks over $50,000.
Popular models: retail vs. pre-owned
For the most-wanted steel sports models, pre-owned asking prices on Tempo and elsewhere run from about 30% to well over 100% above US retail, because these are the watches authorized dealers rarely have in stock. Dress models like the Datejust sit much closer to retail.
| Model | Reference | Nickname | Bracelet | US retail (2026) | Asking on Tempo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Submariner (no date) | 124060 | — | Oyster | $10,050 | $13,500–$14,250 (2) |
| Submariner Date | 126610LN | — | Oyster | $11,350 | $14,900–$15,800 (2) |
| Submariner Date, green bezel | 126610LV | Starbucks | Oyster | $11,900 | $15,700–$16,249 (3) |
| GMT-Master II, black/blue | 126710BLNR | Batman | Oyster | $11,800 | $17,500–$19,400 (3) |
| GMT-Master II, black/blue | 126710BLNR | Batgirl | Jubilee | approx. $12,000 | $20,650 (1, unworn) |
| GMT-Master II, red/blue | 126710BLRO | Pepsi | Jubilee | Discontinued April 2026 | $24,000–$29,900 (2) |
| GMT-Master II, left-handed | 126720VTNR | Sprite | Oyster | $12,300 | $17,800–$18,500 (2) |
| GMT-Master II, left-handed | 126720VTNR | Sprite | Jubilee | $12,500 | $19,100–$19,249 (2, unworn) |
| GMT-Master II, two-tone | 126711CHNR | Root Beer | Oyster | approx. $20,450 | $23,600 (1, unworn) |
| Datejust 41, smooth bezel | 126300 | — | Oyster | $8,950 | $9,999–$12,100 (4) |
| Datejust 41, smooth bezel | 126300 | — | Jubilee | approx. $9,300 | $12,500–$13,700 (6) |
| Datejust 41, fluted bezel | 126334 | — | Oyster | $11,650 | $15,700–$16,300 (2, unworn) |
| Datejust 41, fluted bezel | 126334 | — | Jubilee | approx. $12,000 | $16,300–$18,200 (7) |
| Cosmograph Daytona, steel | 126500LN | Panda | Oyster | $16,900 | $38,800 (1, unworn) |
| Day-Date 40, yellow gold | 228238 | President | President | $50,400 | $60,000 (1, unworn) |
| Day-Date 40, Everose gold | 228235 | President | President | approx. $54,200 | $52,999–$57,999 (3) |
The number in brackets is how many listings the range covers.
Oyster vs. Jubilee. The GMT-Master II and Datejust come on either the sporty three-link Oyster bracelet or the dressier five-link Jubilee. Rolex charges about $200 more for the Jubilee, and the market widens that gap: unworn, the Jubilee "Batgirl" asks $20,650 on Tempo against $19,400 for the Oyster "Batman", and a Jubilee "Sprite" asks $1,300 more than an Oyster one. On the Datejust 41, unworn Jubilee examples on Tempo ask roughly $400–$1,600 more than Oyster ones.
Pepsi. Rolex discontinued the steel GMT-Master II "Pepsi" at Watches & Wonders in April 2026, so it is now only available pre-owned. Both on Tempo are early examples from 2018–2019, when the Pepsi was offered only on the Jubilee.
Submariner price. A current Submariner retails for $10,050 (no date) or $11,350 (date). Pre-owned and unworn examples on Tempo ask $13,500–$15,800. The previous generation, ref. 116610LN (2010–2020), asks $11,999–$13,249, close to today's retail. It is the cheapest route to a modern ceramic-bezel Submariner.
Root Beer Rolex. "Root Beer" is the nickname for GMT-Master II models with a brown-and-black bezel. The two-tone steel and Everose ref. 126711CHNR asks $23,600 unworn on Tempo; the full Everose gold ref. 126715CHNR asks $42,999. The vintage original, the GMT-Master ref. 1675/3 from the 1970s, is a separate collector market.
Day-Date ("President"). The Day-Date gets its nickname from the President bracelet it is usually fitted with. A new Day-Date 40 in yellow gold retails at about $50,400. Pre-owned modern examples on Tempo ask $43,000–$60,000. Earlier 36mm Day-Dates from the 1970s and 1980s start at $11,499.
What moves the price of a pre-owned Rolex
The same reference can vary by several thousand dollars depending on four things.
- Reference and dial. The single biggest driver. Two Oyster Perpetual 36s (ref. 126000) on Tempo ask $10,700 and $18,300; the difference is the dial colour, not the condition.
- Condition. Unworn watches (bought at retail and never worn) usually ask a few hundred to a few thousand dollars more than excellent pre-owned examples of the same reference. A Datejust 41 ref. 126300 asks $12,100–$13,700 unworn and $9,999–$12,999 pre-owned.
- Box and papers. The original warranty card proves the watch's sale date and dealer, which makes resale easier. 198 of the 287 Rolex listings on Tempo include papers, 184 of them with the original box as well. Vintage watches without them are normal, but expect them to trade for less than they would with box and papers.
- Era. Vintage steel sports models (Submariner, GMT-Master, Sea-Dweller) often ask more than modern versions. Neo-vintage pieces from the late 1980s to early 2000s, with five-digit references like the Datejust 16233 or Submariner 14060, are often the best value per dollar: they have sapphire crystals and modern movements, at prices well below current production.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a Rolex in 2026? A new Rolex retails from $6,200 (Oyster Perpetual 28) to over $100,000 for gem-set gold models. Most steel models retail at $8,000–$17,000. On the pre-owned market, the median Rolex on Tempo asks $15,499 as of October 2026.
What is the cheapest Rolex you can buy? New, the Oyster Perpetual 28 at $6,200 US retail. Pre-owned, vintage Oyster Perpetuals, Air-Kings and Datejusts start around $4,000–$5,000. The cheapest modern men's Rolex on Tempo is an Oyster Perpetual 34 at $6,149.
How much is a Rolex Submariner? A new Submariner retails at $10,050 without date and $11,350 with date. Pre-owned and unworn current models ask $13,500–$15,800 on Tempo. The previous ceramic generation (ref. 116610LN) asks $12,000–$13,250.
Why do some pre-owned Rolex watches cost more than new? Authorized dealers have far fewer steel sports models than buyers want, and often allocate them to existing clients. The pre-owned premium reflects that scarcity, and it varies by model. Models that are easy to get at retail, like most Datejusts, trade close to retail.
How much does a Rolex service cost? A full service at an official Rolex Service Center typically costs $800–$1,600 for a modern steel model, and more for chronographs, gold models or watches that need parts. Independent watchmakers usually charge 30–50% less. Rolex suggests servicing modern watches about every 10 years, and an official service carries a two-year guarantee.
How we priced this
Pre-owned figures are the asking prices of all 287 Rolex watches listed on Tempo on October 21, 2026, from our vetted dealers. They are asking prices, not completed sales, and include unworn watches. Ranges show the lowest and highest asking price for each reference; medians are the middle listing. We update this guide as listings change. Browse every Rolex on Tempo.
US retail prices are Rolex's 2026 list prices after the January 1 increase and the June 1 increase on gold models.