Overview of the Rolex Datejust
The Datejust is by far Rolex's most prolific watch. It's been around since 1945 and was the first waterproof automatic watch to have a date display. Something we all take for granted now and often forget is a Rolex innovation. The date was not originally magnified by the famous Cyclops lens, which makes early models sought after. This was introduced as a standard in 1953 and has never gone away.
Rolex Datejust - Credit WatchGecko
The Datejust is a model that was conceived during the leadership time of Hans Wilsdorf, and he called this new watch a; "…pinnacle of watchmaking science. It encapsulates every discovery made to date." It is an apt description as this was an era where genuine waterproof watches, which were powered by the movement of your wrist, were new inventions. The watch also had (and still has) a rapid date change function, which means you don't have to wind around a whole month of dates to reset the watch.
The model was so popular that in 1957, a Lady Datejust was added to the collection. This watch had a much-reduced diameter of 26mm, which has grown to 31mm today. It is fascinating that in an era where we avoid describing watches as men's or ladies', Rolex has disregarded this philosophy and retained the small Lady Datejust in its portfolio.
The Datejust is arguably Rolex's greatest general-purpose watch. It provides Rolex build quality, with enough ruggedness for most people, and looks timeless. It can be worn casually or formally. A stainless-steel model from the 1990s, which can be sourced reasonably priced, looks very much like a stainless 2024 model, so unlike some Rolex sports watches, the Datejust will always look on-trend.
Current Datejust Catalogue
Rolex Datejust - Credit WatchGecko
Today's collection of Datejusts is hugely comprehensive. The watch is produced in three different case sizes: 31mm, 36mm and 41mm. It is available with three different bracelets, all as famous and desirable as the watch: the Oyster, Jubilee, and President. Steel and gold in various colours complete the metal elements. There are numerous dials, from plain black to diamond inlaid. The current Rolex website has a mind-boggling 200+ different Datejust combinations available to buy. No matter what you want, a specific dial, bracelet, bezel or case size that watch exists.
Entry to the Datejust market comes in the form of reference: 278240, which is a 31mm Oystersteel with a plain silver dial. This costs £6100. If you progress up to a 36mm model of the same spec, the price goes up, peaking at £7100 for the 41mm. At the other end of the steel spectrum, you can spend £14,400 for a reference: 126333, which is yellow gold and steel with gem-set hour markers. If steel is not your material of choice and only gold will do, then the prices leap to £40,600 for reference: 278298RBR, which has its 31mm case and bracelet in white gold with diamonds set in the dial and bezel.
Irrespective of external spec, all Datejusts are powered by the superb Rolex Calibre 3235, which offers an accuracy of -2/+2 sec/day. Like the sports models, even the Datejust has a Paramagnetic blue Parachrom hairspring and Paraflex shock absorbers. The rotor has bidirectional self-winding and a power reserve of 70 hours.
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