10 Great Gold Rolex Watches at European Watch Company

People tend to think of Rolex watches as the quintessential tool watches. And they are! But they also have quite a large catalog of gold timepieces. From gold sport watches to their dressier pieces, there is something for everyone (in gold) in Rolex’s collection. In this guide, we take a look at 10 great gold Rolex watches to add to your collection.

Rolex Daytona Ref. 116508 “John Mayer”

Price: $70,000-$80,000, Case Size: 40mm, Thickness: 12.3mm, Lug-to-Lug: 46.5mm, Lug Width: 20mm, Water Resistance: 30M, Crystal: Sapphire, Movement: Automatic Winding, Material: Yellow Gold

Over the past 5 years, perhaps no gold Rolex has become more popular than the the Ref. 116508 in yellow gold with green sunray dial. This watch has been nicknamed the John Mayer by collectors. Why is that? Well, during an interview, Mayer, an avid watch collector, noted that he owned the model and thought it was one of the more underrated Rolex watches on the market. The popularity skyrocketed from there. And in 2023, after 7 years in production, Rolex discontinued the model, increasing its value even further.

Rolex Daytona Le Mans Ref. 126529LN

Price: $265,000-$275,000, Case Size: 40mm, Thickness: 12.3mm, Lug-to-Lug: 46.5mm, Lug Width: 20mm, Water Resistance: 30M, Crystal: Sapphire, Movement: Automatic Winding, Material: White Gold

When the Rolex Daytona Ref. 126529LN “Le Mans” was released last year, the buzz around the watch was greater than any modern Rolex I had ever seen. Released to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, it instantly became the most sought after Daytona reference on the market. Housed in a white gold case, the reverse panda dial reminded people of the vintage Newman Daytonas that are still ever so popular. And after just a year on the market, Rolex discontinued the model (though they did release an off-catalog yellow gold model). Because of this, the Le Mans Daytona sells for magnitudes of its original retail price on the secondary market.

Rolex Daytona Rainbow Ref. 116595RBOW

Price: $400,000-$425,000, Case Size: 40mm, Thickness: 12.3mm, Lug-to-Lug: 46.5mm, Lug Width: 20mm, Water Resistance: 30M, Crystal: Sapphire, Movement: Automatic Winding, Material: Rose Gold

No list of gold Rolex watches is complete without a rainbow Daytona. The rainbow Daytona is the watch that started the rainbow watch craze (which many other brands have followed). And the Ref. 116595RBOW in rose gold is our favorite of the bunch. The bezel of the Ref. 116595RBOW is set with multicolored gems, with matching hour markers depending on the hour. As if the watch didn’t need more ice, the lugs and crown guard are set with diamonds. But, since the rainbow Daytona is an off-catalog piece from Rolex, if you want to it at retail, you have to be a big spender with your Authorized Dealer.

Read our full review of the Rolex Daytona Rainbow Ref. 116595RBOW here.

Rolex Day-Date Olive Green Ref. 228235

Price: $47,000-$53,000, Case Size: 40mm, Thickness: 12mm, Lug-to-Lug: 47mm, Lug Width: 20mm, Water Resistance: 100M, Crystal: Sapphire, Movement: Automatic Winding, Material: Rose Gold

While Rolex makes most of their sport/tool watches in gold and other precious metals, perhaps gold is most at home on the Day-Date. And the Day-Date Ref. 228235 is a personal favorite. People often accuse the Day-Date of being an “old man’s watch”, but this particular 228235 couldn’t be further from this description. The rose gold case and bracelet and olive green dial give the watch a modern aesthetic that many Day-Dates don’t share. It’s a great option for the collector looking for their first Day-Date

Check out our review of the Rolex Day-Date Everose Gold Ref. 228235-0025 here.

Rolex Day-Date Onyx Dial Ref. 228348RBR

Price: $60,000-$65,000, Case Size: 40mm, Thickness: 12mm, Lug-to-Lug: 47mm, Lug Width: 20mm, Water Resistance: 100M, Crystal: Sapphire, Movement: Automatic Winding, Material: Yellow Gold

If you like the Day-Date but want something a little special, the Ref. 228348RBR is a great choice. While this Day-Date comes in yellow gold, what makes it special is its Onyx dial and diamond-set bezel. As Onyx is a naturally occurring gemstone, every dial will be just a little bit different, meaning your watch will be unique from all others on the market. It’s a nice way to get a piece unique without it being actually a piece unique (and having a piece unique price).

Rolex Submariner Ref. 116619LB “Smurf”

Price: $33,000-$39,000, Case Size: 40mm, Thickness: 12.4mm, Lug-to-Lug: 48mm, Lug Width: 20mm, Water Resistance: 300M, Crystal: Sapphire, Movement: Automatic Winding, Material: White Gold

Yes, Rolex’s tool watches also come in gold. And while it has been discontinued, the Submariner Ref. 116619LB “Smurf” may be my favorite gold Submariner. Nicknamed the Smurf of its light blue dial and matching bezel, it was a collector favorite until discontinued in 2021. With its white gold case, the watch is rather unassuming. If you aren’t an avid watch collector, you might assume it’s a stainless steel Rolex. But those who know Rolex’s catalog, know that it is white gold and one of the most popular Submariner models.

Rolex Submariner Ref. 126618LB

Price: $35,000-$40,000, Case Size: 40mm, Thickness: 12.4mm, Lug-to-Lug: 48mm, Lug Width: 20mm, Water Resistance: 300M, Crystal: Sapphire, Movement: Automatic Winding, Material: Yellow Gold

For those looking for something a little more flashy, the Submariner Ref. 126618LB is a great choice. Like the Smurf, the Ref. 126618LB comes with a blue dial and bezel, but in this case its a darker sunray blue. And here the case is yellow gold. This gives the watch an entirely different aesthetic to the Smurf, perhaps just a bit flashier. But if that’s your style, it truly is a stunning watch.

Rolex Sky-Dweller Ref. 336935

Price: $67,000-$70,000, Case Size: 42mm, Thickness: 14mm, Lug-to-Lug: 50.5mm, Lug Width: 22mm, Water Resistance: 100M, Crystal: Sapphire, Movement: Automatic Winding, Material: Rose Gold

The Rolex Sky-Dweller is somewhat of an obscurity in Rolex’s catalog. It’s bigger than most of Rolex’s references, but it is also the brand’s most complicated watch, having a date, second time zone and month complication. The Ref. 336935 features a rose gold case and blue sunray dial that just go so well together. And the signature fluted bezel just pulls the watch together perfectly. If a large Rolex is what you’re seeking, the Sky-Dweller Ref. 336935 is a great choice.

Rolex Perpetual 1908 Ref. 52509-0002

Price: $25,000-$29,000, Case Size: 39mm, Thickness: 8mm, Lug-to-Lug: 46.9mm, Lug Width: 21mm, Water Resistance: 30M, Crystal: Sapphire, Movement: Manual Winding, Material: White Gold

Coming as somewhat of a surprise, Rolex discontinued the Cellini in 2023. But at the same time, they replaced their signature dress watch with a new one, the Perpetual 1908. The Perpetual 1908 is an understated dress watch, featuring a white gold case, black dial and small seconds. But, interestingly, Rolex decided to give this new collection a display caseback (something they have only started to do recently). It might not be the most popular Rolex model, but it definitely fills a hole in the brand’s catalog.

Rolex Yacht-Master Ref. 126655

Price: $28,000-$30,000, Case Size: 40mm, Thickness: 12.5mm, Lug-to-Lug: 47mm, Lug Width: 20mm, Water Resistance: 100M, Crystal: Sapphire, Movement: Automatic Winding, Material: Rose Gold

Sporty and gold? That’s what you get with the Rolex Yacht-Master Ref. 126655. This piece not only features a rose gold case, but is only available on a rubber strap. That gives the Yacht-Master an even sportier look and feel than even the gold Submariners. But even on rubber, we love it. For some reason, it just works. If you want that bang around gold Rolex, the Yacht-Master Ref. 126655 is a great choice.