Welcome back to another episode of Fratello On Air! This week, we chat about the legendary five-digit Rolex era and how it’s probably the greatest collection of modern watches. We discuss why and mention some of our favorite models. Enjoy the show!

For many of us, it seems that the five-digit Rolex period was around forever. In fact, the watches debuted in the late 1970s and stayed in production until 2012! That’s a long time! Of course, there were tweaks over the 30-plus years, but the watches remain relevant today. We discuss their impact and why owning one can be an endgame move.

Ming 22.01 GMT Gilt flat-lay

Handgelenkskontrolle

We kick off our show with a discussion about Mike’s recent trip to the United States and his proximity to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Then, we move on to watches. Mike recently spent a lengthy amount of time with the new Ming 37.11 Odyssey, a diver GMT that truly struck his fancy. Yes, he has ordered one. Then, Balazs mentions the new Louis Erard 2340, an attractive take on the integrated-bracelet sports watch. For the Handgelenkskontrolle, both of us are wearing a Ming 22.01 GMT. Mike’s Gilt version is on the titanium Ming Universal Bracelet. However, Balazs scores the win with his Kyoto variant on the new titanium Ming Polymesh. It’s fabulous!

Rolex Datejust 16200 on wrist

Five-digit Rolex

For our main topic, we move on to five-digit Rolex and why it still reigns supreme as the greatest modern collection of watches. These pieces all had one foot in the modern era and one in the vintage period. Slim cases, stamped clasps, and mostly stamped end links are just some of the lovely old-world characteristics. Modern movements finally brought a quick-setting date function and modern frequencies. For those who enjoy aging, aluminum bezels, and the chance to find tritium, these watches tick a lot of boxes. Most importantly, though, these pieces can all be worn daily and should remain usable for decades to come. We also discuss how values are rising again after a post-pandemic drop.

Rolex Explorer 14270 wrist shot

It’s hard to go wrong with any five-digit Rolex, but each of us shares our favorite three models. Balazs enjoys the Submariner 14060 with tritium markers, an Explorer II 16570 with a polar-white dial, and the watch that brought Rolex into the mainstream, the Submariner Date 16610. As for Mike, he’s in love with the flashy Submariner 16618 with blue dial, the ultimate classic Explorer 14270, and the under-the-radar Datejust 16200 or Turn-O-Graph 16264. Really, there’s no wrong choice within the entire catalog, but we’d love to hear yours!

We hope you enjoy today’s episode. As always, thanks for listening, and feel free to share any topics that you’d like us to cover in the future.

  1. Home
  2. Watch Brands
  3. Louis Erard
  4. Ming
  5. Rolex
  6. Fratello On Air: The Best Modern Watches Are Still Five-Digit Rolex