Platinum Rolex Watch Prices: A Collector’s Guide
How do you make one of the most recognizable luxury brands in the world even more exclusive? Add platinum, of course, one of the rarest and most valuable precious metals in watch and jewelry making. Platinum Rolex prices can be astoundingly high, although they vary widely. Rolex has worked with the noble metal for over a century, from Platinette pocket watches produced as early as the 1920s to the remarkable lineup of current-production Day-Date and Daytona watches. We’ve put together this platinum Rolex price guide for collectors interested in learning more about which models are available in platinum, and how much Rolex platinum watches cost.
Why Are Platinum Rolexes So Expensive?
To maintain the high level of quality their brand is known for, Rolex crafts their own 950 platinum (meaning 95% pure platinum, the purity typical of platinum jewelry) in-house. The metal is widely celebrated for its luxurious luster, incredible corrosion resistance, and distinct heft on the wrist. At the same time, it takes a master metalsmith to finesse platinum into the perfectly polished and refined masterpiece that is a platinum Rolex watch because it is inherently difficult to work with. Rolex often pairs the cool, silvery tones of the metal finish with icy blue dials, which are exclusive to platinum watches. However, there are many more design set options, which we will explore further in this buying guide.
You can expect to pay more for a platinum Rolex than a gold one (and almost any other Rolex watch, for that matter) because .950 platinum is denser, rarer, and purer than 18k gold. So even though the spot price of gold often exceeds that of platinum, keep in mind that there is more platinum in a platinum watch than gold in an 18k gold watch–roughly 40% more, in fact.
How Much is a Rolex Platinum Watch?
It’s difficult to assign a price range to platinum watches because they vary significantly at retail and on the secondary market. For example, the platinum Rolex price for iced-out watches covered in diamonds commands well into the 6-digits, while the classic Platinum Rolex Day Date 36 retails for just under $60k. A used 35mm Cellinium is the cheapest option for a platinum Rolex, with a current market value around $10,000, while the newest diamond-covered platinum Rolex Daytona model can sell for $400,000. Also note that Rolexes with Eastern Arabic hour markers, originally sold at Middle Eastern authorized dealers only, often sell for 30% more than typical versions. Now, let’s break down platinum Rolex price by model:
More on Rolex Prices:
The Ultimate Rolex Day Date Price Guide
Rolex Daytona Price & Buying Guide
What is the Price of a Rolex Oyster Perpetual Datejust?
Rolex Daytona Platinum
Rolex celebrated 50 years of the Cosmograph Daytona in 2013 by releasing the first platinum model, ref. 116506. Just a few years prior, the Everose ref. 116515LN was the first Daytona to sport a ceramic bezel. The platinum anniversary Rolex followed in its footsteps with a rather unexpected design, pairing the luxurious platinum finish with a rich chestnut brown bezel, ice blue dial, and matching brown sub-dials. The caliber 4130, Rolex’s first in-house chronograph, powered the watch.
Fast forward ten years to 2023 and the current 1265XX generation. Rolex released another edition of the Rolex platinum Cosmograph Daytona to celebrate the collection’s 60th anniversary. The new Rolex platinum watch sent tongues wagging with several upgrades, including subtle aesthetic refinements, a shiny new movement, and an exciting, history-making feature – the first exhibition case back on a Rolex sports watch. Flipping the watch over, we now have a view of the engine driving the iconic chronograph, the new caliber 4131 decorated with a striking Rolex Côtes de Genève finish. Could this watch signal a new era of Rolex watches with transparent case backs? Or will the brand keep it exclusive to the anniversary Daytona model (and the LeMans Daytona)?
Platinum Rolex Daytona Prices by Reference
| Reference | Bezel | Market Price (Jan. 2024) |
| 116506 | Ceramic tachymeter | $106,000 |
| 116576TBR | Diamond | $300,000 |
| 126506 | Ceramic tachymeter | $130,000 |
| 126576TBR | Diamond | $400,000 |
Rolex Day-Date Platinum
The Day-Date is one of the Crown’s most exquisite offerings because it only uses precious metals. As a result, the collection is often regarded as a status symbol – the watch worn by successful, wealthy, and influential individuals such as A-list celebrities and American Presidents. As you can imagine, platinum is right at home on the Day-Date, which also happens to be one of the most iconic platinum Rolex watches of all time.
The Day-Date debuted in 1956, characterized by dual apertures and a bracelet with semi-circular-shaped links called the “President.” The smooth bezel that was once a hallmark of the platinum Presidential Rolex was recently discontinued entirely and replaced with a fluted bezel, an interesting update because of how difficult it is to machine platinum. However, Rolex continues to push the limits of its own boundaries to produce some of the most exceptional watches on the market.
The 36mm Day-Date, its most iconic form, has remained an option since its release in 1956. The first Day-Date to sport a larger case–the 41mm Day-Date II– debuted in 2008. The Rolex DD2 was replaced by the Day-Date 40, with an elegantly refined 40mm case, in 2015. Because platinum is much harder to machine than gold, Rolex was never able to offer a fluted platinum bezel–until 2022, when fluted bezels replaced smooth bezels for both the platinum Day-Date 36 and Day-Date 40.
Platinum Day-Date 36 Prices by Reference
| Reference | Bezel | Market Price (Jan. 2024) |
| 1802 | Smooth | $75,000 |
| 1804 | Diamond | $50,000 |
| 18026 | Smooth | $44,000 |
| 18046 | Diamond | $30,000 |
| 18206 | Smooth | $30,000 |
| 18296 | Smooth | $34,000 |
| 118206 | Smooth | $34,000 |
| 118296 | Smooth | $34,000 |
| 118346 | Diamond | $34,000 |
| 118366 | Baguette Diamond | $70,000 |
| 128236 | Fluted | $67,000 |
| 128396 | Trapeze-cut diamond | $100,000 |
Platinum Day-Date II Prices by Reference
| Reference | Bezel | Market Price (2024) |
| 218206 | Smooth | $70,000 |
Platinum Day-Date 40 Prices by Reference
| Reference | Bezel | Market Price (Jan. 2024) |
| 228206 | Smooth | $69,000 |
| 228236 | Fluted | $82,000 |
| 228396 | Diamond | $123,000 |
Platinum Ladies’ Rolex Models: Rolex Datejust
The Datejust isn’t typically as luxurious as the Day-Date. Still, a handful of models are dressed in the noble metal, including the 31mm model and the Lady-Datejust. These models are often paired with luxurious design elements, such as diamond-encrusted bezels or lugs and the iconic President bracelet. Who needs jewelry when they have an exquisite platinum Rolex on their wrist?
Platinum Datejust Prices by Reference
| Model | Reference | Market Price (Jan. 2024) | |
| Datejust 31 | 68246 | Smooth | $20,000 |
| Datejust 31 | 78246 | Smooth | $22,000 |
| Datejust 31 | 178246 | Smooth | $26,000 |
| Datejust 26 | 69166 | Smooth | $17,500 |
| Datejust 26 | 69136 | Diamond | $15,000 |
| Datejust 26 | 79166 | Smooth | $19,000 |
| Datejust 26 | 179136 | Diamond | $25,000 |
| Datejust 26 | 179166 | Smooth | $18,000 |
| Datejust 26 | 179296 | Smooth | $20,000 |
| Datejust 28 | 279166 | Smooth | $33,000 |
| Datejust 28 | 279136RBR | Diamond | $45,000 |
Rolex Masterpiece
The Masterpiece, made from roughly 2001-2015, holds a curious place in Rolex history, pairing characteristics of the Pearlmaster released in the 1990s with the Day-Date. The dial has two displays like the Day-Date but wears on the Pearlmaster’s distinctive 5-piece link bracelet. Like the Day-Date and Pearlmaster, the Rolex Masterpiece was only produced in precious metals, including platinum. It sports a 39mm case, slightly larger than the traditional Day-Date 36 yet smaller than the Day-Date II and Day-Date 40.
Platinum Rolex Masterpiece Prices by Reference
| Reference | Bezel | Market Price (Jan. 2024) |
| 18946 | Round diamond | $50,000 |
| 18956 | Trapeze-cut diamond | $62,000 |
Rolex Cellinium
The aptly named Cellinium is a platinum sub-model of the Cellini characterized by elegant, round cases in either 35mm or 38mm and hand-wound movements. The series is no longer in production, but many iterations of both sizes are available pre-owned, including with Rolex’s signature icy blue dial. Platinum Rolex prices don’t get any more reasonable; both sizes of Cellinium can easily be found for under $15,000.
Rolex Cellinium Prices by Reference
| Reference | Diameter | Market Price (Jan. 2024) |
| 5240 | 35mm | $9,000 |
| 5241 | 38mm | $13,000 |
Honorable Mention: Platinum Bezel Rolex Yacht-Master
The Rolex Yacht-Master is one of the watches many collectors think of first at the mention of a platinum Rolex. The case and bracelet are made of stainless steel, while the bezel features 950 platinum, a combination of metals Rolex has patented as “Rolesium.” It’s a relatively affordable alternative to other platinum Rolexes and, for now, is only available within the Yacht-Master collection. As a somewhat dressed-up version of the ready-for-anything Submariner, platinum is right at home on the regatta timer.
Platinum-Bezel Yacht-Master Prices by Reference
| Model | Reference | Case | Market Price (Jan. 2024) |
| Yacht-Master 40 | 16622 | Stainless steel | $9,000 |
| Yacht-Master 40 | 116622 | Stainless steel | $11,750 |
| Yacht-Master 40 | 126622 | Stainless steel | $14,000 |
| Yacht-Master 29 | 169622 | Stainless steel | $5,000 |
| Yacht-Master 35 | 168622 | Stainless steel | $7,300 |
| Yacht-Master 37 | 268622 | Stainless steel | $11,750 |
| Yacht-Master II | 116689 | White gold | $33,000 |
Do All Platinum Rolex Watches Have Ice Blue Dials?
Although Rolex’s appealing ice blue dials are only available on platinum models, not all platinum Rolexes have ice blue dials. Rolex changed the name of the dial color from “glacier blue” to “ice blue” in 2017, but that was only a name change. Even before the name change, glacier blue dials had a spectrum of shades ranging from somewhat greyish to more pastel-like. In any case, it’s certainly the most popular dial color for a platinum Rolex, and a notable example of a luxury watch brand successfully associating a color with a particular metal.
The Rolex portfolio has grown over the years to include several dress and sports watches in lustrous platinum–the noblest of all the metals. With a clear understanding of platinum Rolex price ranges, which one are you adding to your watch box?
More on Rolex:
What is the Rolex Pepsi?
Best Alternatives to the Rolex Daytona
The Rolex Supply Chain: Does Demand Really Exceed Supply?
Understanding the Rolex Rehaut
Rolex Myths, Lies, and Almost-Firsts
