Rolex Day-Date 36

Strip a Rolex down to its essence and you get this: no date, no complications, just the self-winding movement and waterproof case the whole brand grew from. The Oyster Perpetual is the most affordable way into a brand-new Rolex, and lately it's also been the most fun. A run of bright lacquer dials in turquoise, coral, green, and yellow sent collectors into a genuine frenzy, and if you've ever spotted a Rolex that looks like a candy shop, it was almost certainly one of these. Sizes run from a small 28mm to a modern 41mm, so there's one for most wrists. Where the sports models sell you function, this one sells the idea in its cleanest form.