Rolex introduced the Datejust in 1945 as a self-winding chronometer wristwatch with a date window at 3 o’clock and a Jubilee bracelet created for the launch. The date display—not a date hand circling the dial—became its defining feature. Rolex’s account traces how the design developed from that starting point into a current collection offered in several sizes and configurations.
When did the Rolex Datejust come out?
Rolex dates the Datejust’s debut to 1945, the year of the company’s 40th anniversary. In the manufacturer’s history, the original watch brought together a self-winding movement, chronometer certification, an Oyster case, and a date shown in a window at 3 o’clock. Rolex describes the Datejust as a pillar of its Oyster Perpetual collection. The company’s Oyster story attributes the phrase “the pinnacle of watchmaking science” to founder Hans Wilsdorf in reference to the watch’s release.
That is Rolex’s account of its own history; the cited brand pages do not independently verify every historical claim or quotation.
What makes a Datejust different?
The date in a window
The name points to the calendar function: the date is displayed in a dedicated aperture at 3 o’clock. This distinguishes the design from watches that indicate the date with a hand moving around the dial. Rolex says it added the display to make the date immediately readable on the watch face.
The Cyclops magnifier
Rolex identifies 1953 as the year the Datejust gained its Cyclops lens, a magnifier over the date named for the one-eyed figure in Greek mythology. The lens enlarges the date for legibility. The company’s timeline calls the Datejust the first watch to feature a Cyclops lens; that is a manufacturer claim, rather than an independently established comparison here.
An evolving combination of features
Rolex’s account presents the launch model as combining a self-winding mechanism, chronometer certification, and a waterproof Oyster case with the date window. The technical descriptions are the brand’s own. The Datejust has continued to evolve, but its date aperture remains the central visual and functional idea.
Rank #2
- Imported
- Pre-Loved Condition: Very Good; Minor scratches and wear on case and band.
- Case Size/Width: 36mm, Watch Height: 12mm, Band Width: 20mm, Wrist circumference: 7.0"
- Band material: Stainless steel with 18k yellow gold.
- Case material: Stainless Steel
How did the Datejust’s design evolve?
1945: the Jubilee bracelet
Rolex says it designed the Jubilee bracelet specifically for the Datejust’s 1945 launch. Its five-piece link construction gives the watch a different visual character from the more straightforward Oyster bracelet. The Jubilee remains one of the Datejust’s signature options, although bracelet availability varies by model.
The 1950s: Rolesor
Rolex says Datejust versions combining gold and steel began appearing in its catalogue in the 1950s. The brand calls this combination Rolesor. It introduced a two-tone expression while leaving the date display at the heart of the design.
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- Pre-Loved Condition: Very Good; Light scratching and wear throughout watch
- Length: , Height: , Depth:
- Made in Switzerland
- Oyster clasp closure
- Signature upon delivery required
The date-change milestone
Rolex’s official pages do not give one consistent year for the instantaneous date change. The Datejust timeline connects the mechanism with calibre 1065, while the newsroom account says the date change became instantaneous in 1956. Because the pages do not align precisely, it is more accurate to describe this as a development Rolex associates with the Datejust’s later evolution than to present a single uncontested milestone year.
Bezel, dial, and bracelet choices
Today’s design variations include smooth, domed, fluted, and gem-set bezels, alongside a range of dial expressions. Rolex describes Oyster and Jubilee bracelet options, with specific combinations depending on the model. The choice is primarily one of fit and appearance; no single bezel, dial, or bracelet defines every Datejust.
Rank #4
- Imported
- Pre-Loved Condition: Very Good; Scratches and minor wear on case and band.
- Case Size/Width: 26mm, Watch Height: 11mm, Band Width: 13mm, Wrist circumference: 5.5"
- Band material: Stainless steel with 18k yellow gold.
- Case material: Stainless Steel
What does the current Datejust collection look like?
Rolex’s newsroom describes the current collection in 31, 36, and 41 mm case sizes. It says the Datejust Oyster case is waterproof to 100 metres (330 feet). These are collection-level details in that newsroom account; configurations and specifications should be checked against the individual reference and regional product page.
| Choice | What Rolex’s collection offers |
|---|---|
| Case size | 31, 36, or 41 mm, as listed in Rolex’s newsroom account |
| Materials | Oystersteel, precious gold, and Rolesor combinations, depending on model |
| Bracelets | Oyster or Jubilee options, depending on model |
| Bezel and dial | Multiple bezel finishes and dial expressions; combinations vary by reference |
As one concrete example, Rolex’s US product page lists a Datejust 36 Oystersteel, reference 126200, with a silver dial and Jubilee bracelet. It is an example of one configuration, not a specification shared by every Datejust. Regional models, prices, and availability can change.
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- Pre-Loved Condition: Very Good; Light scratching and scuffing throughout hardware
- Length: , Height: , Depth:
- Made in Switzerland
- Oyster clasp closure
- Signature upon delivery required
Who wore a Rolex Datejust?
Rolex’s collection page names Winston Churchill, Dwight D. Eisenhower, and Martin Luther King among notable people associated with the Datejust. Its timeline separately recounts a proposal of a rose-gold Datejust to Churchill and a presentation to Eisenhower. These are Rolex’s accounts; the cited pages do not independently establish every detail of those ownership histories, and the names are not an exhaustive list.
Where should you go for a Datejust or service?
For current model details, Rolex provides reference-specific product information. The company states that only official Rolex jewelers are allowed to sell and maintain Rolex watches; its official jeweler locator is the appropriate starting point for finding that channel. A marketplace listing alone does not establish that a seller is an authorized Rolex jeweler.
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