Recommended Free Tools
For a straightforward 1990s Rolex diver, Fratello writer Jorg Weppelink’s pick is the no-date Submariner ref. 14060. But “best” depends on what you want from the watch: a date, a travel-time function, a compact everyday design, or a dressier look. This guide treats the models as a personal shortlist, not an objective ranking or a complete catalog, and focuses on how to distinguish the references before buying one pre-owned.
What “best” means in this guide
Fratello’s Jorg Weppelink selected what he considered the decade’s most remarkable Rolex models in a guide published September 11, 2021. His selection includes references whose production crossed the decade boundary, so a model’s appearance here does not always mean it was made only during the 1990s. A separate shortlist from retailer Bob’s Watches broadens the candidates. Neither list establishes a universal winner.
For a buyer, the more useful question is which function and design suit your needs—and whether the individual watch is authentic, correctly configured, and in sound condition. A reference number alone does not prove any of those things.
Which 1990s Rolex should you consider?
| What you want | Reference to consider | Why it may fit |
|---|---|---|
| A simple diver without a date | Submariner 14060 | Fratello’s featured choice; it has a no-date dial. |
| A diver with a date | Submariner 16610 | A date-equipped alternative included in Bob’s Watches’ 1990s reference list. |
| To set local time independently while traveling | GMT-Master II 16710 | The GMT-Master II’s independent hour hand lets the wearer adjust local hour time separately. |
| The earlier GMT hand arrangement | GMT-Master 16700 | Fratello describes using the rotating bezel to indicate another time zone. |
| A compact, time-only everyday watch | Explorer 14270 | Fratello notes its 36 mm case and that it was announced in 1989, just before the decade. |
| A dressier two-tone watch | Datejust 16233 | Bob’s Watches describes a 36 mm steel-and-yellow-gold example. |
| A more opulent nautical style | Yacht-Master 16628 or 16622 | Bob’s Watches distinguishes the all-gold 16628 from the steel-and-platinum 16622. |
Rolex Submariner: 14060 or 16610?
Submariner 14060: the no-date choice
Fratello identifies the no-date Submariner ref. 14060 as Weppelink’s preferred 1990s diver. Its article describes a 40 mm case, sapphire crystal, Caliber 3000, and stated water resistance of 300 m. Those are secondary-source details for the reference; check the exact watch and its configuration rather than assuming every example matches a summary.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
#1 Best Overall
Fratello says the updated 14060M arrived in 1999 with Caliber 3130. That timing makes the suffix important: compare the actual reference and movement information for the specific watch, especially if a seller describes it broadly as a “14060.”
Submariner 16610: the date-equipped alternative
The date-equipped Submariner ref. 16610 appears on Bob’s Watches’ broader list of notable 1990s Rolex references. It is the direction to consider if a date display matters more to you than the 14060’s simpler dial. Bob’s Watches is a retailer source, so treat its guide as a candidate list rather than independent proof of a particular example’s specifications or condition.
Rank #2
GMT-Master 16700 versus GMT-Master II 16710
These are not interchangeable references. Rolex’s official history says the GMT-Master began in 1955 as a navigation aid and that the independent-hour-hand movement arrived in 1982 with the model named GMT-Master II. The GMT hand and bezel can be used to display time across time zones. Rolex’s GMT-Master II history provides the brand’s chronology.
GMT-Master 16700
Fratello dates the 16700’s run to 1988–1999 and says it retains the original GMT hand arrangement: the bezel is used to show another time zone. It suits a buyer interested in that arrangement rather than the independent local-hour adjustment of the GMT-Master II.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Rank #3
- Water resistant, not water proof, do not submerge in water, digital sport watch in rectangle case, alarm, chronograph functions, and night light, quartz movement with digital display
- Measuring modes include net time, split time, and first and second place times, functions include digital stopwatch, hourly time signal, auto calendar, and day/date.
- Quartz Movement
- Case Diameter: 33mm
- Not water resistant
GMT-Master II 16710
Bob’s Watches includes the 16710 among its notable 1990s references. The functional distinction is the key buying point: the GMT-Master II lets you move the local hour hand independently. Compare the exact bezel and dial configuration on each watch; do not assume a reference label alone establishes its current parts or originality.
Explorer, Datejust, and Yacht-Master alternatives
Explorer 14270
The Explorer 14270 offers a more compact, time-only direction than the divers and GMT models. Fratello notes its 36 mm case and 1989 announcement, a useful reminder that some models associated with the decade arrived just before it. Inspect the particular dial, case, and movement-era details rather than treating “1990s Explorer” as a complete specification.
Datejust 16233
For a dressier alternative, Bob’s Watches describes the Datejust 16233 as a 36 mm, two-tone steel-and-yellow-gold model that continued through the 1990s, with sapphire crystal and Caliber 3135. Its dial and bracelet choices can change the look substantially, so compare the configuration of the exact watch. Bob’s Watches is a retailer guide, not a substitute for checking the piece being offered.
Yacht-Master 16628 and 16622
Bob’s Watches says the Yacht-Master debuted in all-gold ref. 16628 and that the steel-and-platinum ref. 16622 followed in 1999. It contrasts the Yacht-Master’s stated 100 m water resistance with the Submariner’s 300 m. These historical details come from retailer editorial; check reference-specific documentation before relying on them for an individual purchase. Rolex’s current product pages should not be used to infer the materials, movements, or dimensions of 1990s watches.
Best Value
- Browse images and historical and technical details of the most reliable Rolex models including the Submariner Cosmograph and Yachtmaster which divers auto-racers and boat captains trust for their precision and durability.|Includes updated reports written about new Rolex ideas and performance tests featured in the German watch magazine Armbanduhren (Wristwatch) from the past 15 years.|Features more than 185 color photographs.|Plus a price guide!
How to compare a specific pre-owned watch
Once you have chosen a reference direction, compare the watch itself, not just the name in an advertisement. A high-value pre-owned watch merits an assessment by an independent watchmaker.
- Reference and year: Confirm the reference and whether the claimed production period fits the specific watch. Some candidates cross decade boundaries.
- Function: Decide whether you want a date, no date, GMT-Master bezel-based time-zone display, or GMT-Master II independent hour hand.
- Configuration: Compare case size and material, bezel, dial, and bracelet against documentation for that reference. The listed references can have materially different configurations.
- Originality and condition: Ask whether components have been replaced, refinished, or modified, and have the watch inspected. A reference number does not establish originality or condition.
- Service history and documentation: Review available service records and papers, while remembering that paperwork alone is not an authentication guarantee.
- Seller reliability: Assess the seller and return terms independently; no seller, inventory, or authentication status is established by the model lists cited here.
Keep decade boundaries and prices in perspective
A watch featured in a 1990s guide may have been announced before 1990 or introduced at the decade’s end. The Explorer 14270, for example, was announced in 1989 according to Fratello; Bob’s Watches dates the steel-and-platinum Yacht-Master 16622 to 1999. Check the exact reference and production information instead of relying on a broad decade label.
Fratello’s guide was published in 2021, so any prices in it are historical snapshots, not current valuation advice. No current price range with a dated geography and transaction basis is established here. For a purchase decision, compare recent asking prices and completed sales in your market, accounting for condition and configuration; do not treat an asking price as a sale value.
One notable watch that is not from the 1990s
The green-bezel Submariner ref. 16610LV is often associated with the Submariner’s 50th anniversary, but Rolex dates its introduction to 2003—not the 1990s. The brand’s Submariner history page gives that chronology. Its current model descriptions concern current watches and should not be read as specifications for 1990s examples.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
