Why Do You Wear a Rolex?

I was browsing RolexForums today and ended up reading a long thread titled, simply, "Why do you/I wear a Rolex?"

The opening post comes from a woman who had been asked, at a Sopranos watch party, why she was wearing such an expensive watch. She explains that she bought a two-tone Datejust years ago after a promotion, wears a 36mm because it's easy to read, and has liked Rolex since she was young. After the interaction she thought to herself, "why do I wear a Rolex....I own 3 ....yeah they seem to be a good investment, but to me they are a beautiful piece of jewelry, I always liked them since I was a young girl ....always will....good enough reason for me."

Two Two-Tone Rolex Datejusts in 36mm. Image Source: Hodinkee

From there, the thread grows into dozens of replies. Some are one sentence long. Some turn into short personal essays. People talk about watches they bought to mark milestones, watches they inherited, watches they plan to pass down. A few push back on the idea that Rolex is an "investment." Others argue that a watch you can wear for decades and later sell without taking a major loss occupies a rare middle ground. I read the entire thing and realized how little time most of us spend answering the question for ourselves.

Why I Wear a Rolex

I've worn hundreds of watches at this point. Different brands, complications, sizes, price points, and eras. Plenty look incredible in photos. Plenty read as "perfect" on a spec sheet. Plenty are technically impressive. Very few come close to the satisfaction of wearing a Rolex.

What keeps pulling me back to Rolex are all the little things: the slim case profiles, even in complicated models; the lug curvature that makes a watch wear even thinner; the bracelet taper and tolerances; the decisive click of the clasp. The way the crown threads smoothly when you screw it in and out. The clean, controlled clicks of a Submariner bezel that almost sound amplified. The satisfying click of the local hour hand on a GMT or Explorer II. Even just checking the time and seeing the crown on the dial provides a feeling no other brand can replicate.

The Watch I Keep Coming Back To (and Why)

Rolex Explorer II 16570 on Everest Rubber Strap

I don't wear a Rolex every day. I rotate constantly. That's part of what I enjoy about watches—wearing different designs and choosing what you're feeling that day. Still, I always find myself wanting to put my Explorer II ref. 16570 back on. It wears as slim and comfortable as most time-only watches I own. The dual time complication is one that I actually use (which can't be said for the chronograph). The steel bezel feels utilitarian and low-key while being undeniably iconic. Nothing about it asks for attention. It disappears on the wrist, which, coming from me, is a compliment.

Why the Question Persists

Reading through that forum thread made one thing clear: most people don't wear a Rolex for a single reason. They wear them because of a mix of experiences, preferences, and timing. Milestones. Familiarity. Build quality. Comfort. Recognition. Sometimes all of it at once.

But I'm curious—why do you wear a Rolex? Let us know in the comments below.