The Rolex Datejust – Innovation Becoming Gold Standard

Why should I buy a pre-owned Rolex watch?

Perhaps the questions shouldn’t be ‘Should I buy a new or pre-owned Rolex watch?’, but rather, ‘Is it worth it to buy a Rolex watch?’The resounding answer to the second question is ‘Yes’, whilst the answer to the first one has to be ‘Either – buying a Rolex of any kind is a sound investment’.

Not many brands can pull off continual excellence like Rolex has, with contemporary releases selling as well as vintage pre-owned Rolex watches. Reliably one of the best watches to buy in the world, Rolex is a smooth operator. If you’re wondering how many Rolex watches are produced per year, you might be surprised to know that Rolex has a tight production schedule that it sticks to absolutely. For the consumer, this means that only a certain number of watches are made released each year – regardless of market demand – which means that the market will never be flooded with these superb watches. It also means that Rolex’s superlative craftsmanship will never be compromised by over-production.

When it comes to imbuing their models with little touches to make each model different from the next, Rolex is the king of the subtle change. It is why each ref. number brings fresh surprises, which ensures that Rolex can deliver the consistency it’s known for with a healthy share of design flair.

This is certainly the case with the Rolex DateJust!

The Rolex Datejust

One of the earlier models made by Rolex is still in production, the Rolex Datejust has played an important role in the company since it began. This means that there are many different ref. numbers to choose from, with Rolex Datejust watches made for both men women in a variety of materials, different cases sizes, and in a range of colour combinations.

If you’re new to Rolex – or even if you’re a die-hard fan – our Rolex Datejust Buyers Guide will take a look at what makes the Rolex Datejust so iconic!

Timeless in Design

It’s hard to grasp the sheer provenance of the Rolex Datejust model. Launched to mark Rolex’s 40^th anniversary, in the same year that WWII ended in 1945, the Datejust’s star has never dimmed. Known for its down-to-earth reliability, although there’s nothing pretentious about any of the Rolex models, the Datejust earns its stripes through its honest credentials.

A round Oyster case with a significant three o’clock dial date window a screw-down, the Twinlock winding crown without crown guards are accompanied by a Cyclops magnification lens feature an automatic movement, on all models apart from the Oysterquartz versions. The Datejust’s date display was the first self-winding chronometer wristwatch displaying the date via a window on the dial in the world! Whilst this may since have been adopted as convention for date-display, at the time, this was a brand-new approach to date-complications, and has been accepted as standard ever since.

The history of Rolex Datejust

The Rolex Datejust watch is so very special because it is the first time that Rolex brought together two already-revolutionary timepiece innovations, along with the dial date display: 1926’s waterproof Oyster case, and 1931’s self-winding Perpetual movement. For those wondering if Rolex watches are solid gold, the first Datejust certainly was; it was made entirely from yellow gold!

Rolex added a few adjustments over the years to improve the functionality of the Datejust, with the Cyclops lens, that magnifies the date, and moving to the exterior of the crystal in 1953, and the arrival of the Rolex Datejust “Turn-O-Graph” rotating bezel for timing in 1954. The bezel proved so useful, that the U.S. Air Force Thunderbird squadron adopted the Datejust Turn-O-Graph as its official watch, becoming known as the ‘Thunderbird’.

1957 was a momentous year for the Rolex Datejust. Not only did the date mechanism now jump to the next date at midnight automatically, but the Lady-Datejust was introduced. Smaller than the men’s Datejust, the Lady-Datejust became Rolex’s highest-selling model of all time.

Most Rolex Datejust timepieces are made to the same spec, with small changes in size. However, 1977’s Oysterquartz Datejust was the first Datejust to be powered by quartz - a watch very much of its time.

The Watch of all Watches 

Whilst Rolex are renowned for special sports models, such as the Rolex Submariner, the Datejust was created to be a watch that was reliable, stylish, and adaptable enough to take the wearer through every single day of their life, whatever came their way.

Whilst other Rolexes are made special by their extra ‘capabilities’ to endure heights depths out with the normal daily experience, the Datejust was created to ensure that the wearer would always know at exactly what moment of time they were in, to the day, to the hour, to the minute, and to the second. The Rolex Datejust for ladies or gents is made exceptional by its sheer reliability in never letting the wearer down. There are not very many things that you can count on in your lifetime, but the Rolex Datejust seems to be one of them. It is no surprise, then, that the Datejust is the best-selling Rolex watch of all time.

Pre-owned Rolex watches at Suttons & Robertsons London Jewellers

Here at S&R London Jewellers, we have a great selection of pre-owned Rolex watches for both ladies and gents for you to choose from. Discover our collection of pre-owned Rolex watches online, or visit us in store to browse your options in person. If you can't quite find what you are looking for, then please feel free to get in touch with a member of our team at S&R London. We will be happy to help and to guide you in the right direction! 

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