81 Years of the World’s Most Popular Luxury Watch
The Rolex Datejust is the single most commercially successful luxury watch ever produced. Since 1945, it has been in continuous production through seven generations of movements, four case sizes, dozens of bezel configurations, and hundreds of dial variants. More Datejusts have been sold than Submariners, Daytonas, and GMT-Masters combined. It is the watch that makes Rolex — and by extension, the Swiss watch industry — financially viable.
Generation 1: The Original (1945-1955)
Ref. 4467, then 5030/5031. 36mm case in Rolesor (steel + gold), the first self-changing date display on a wristwatch, and the newly invented Jubilee bracelet (celebrating Rolex’s 40th anniversary). The date changed gradually over several hours — not instantaneously like modern Datejusts. Movement: Cal. A296 (bubbleback automatic).
Generation 2: The Modernization (1955-1977)
Ref. 1601/1603. Introduction of the Cyclops lens (2.5x date magnification), improved waterproofing, and the Cal. 1570 movement with 48-hour reserve. The 1601 is the “quintessential vintage Datejust” — the reference most collected today. Acrylic crystal (no sapphire yet).
Generation 3: The Quickset (1977-2005)
Ref. 16234/16233/16013. Introduction of quick-set date mechanism (Cal. 3035, later 3135) — finally allowing the date to be set independently without cycling through 24 hours. Sapphire crystal replaced acrylic. White gold fluted bezels replaced gold-capped steel. The 16234 (steel/WG fluted) defined the “modern classic” Datejust look.
Generation 4: The Supercase (2005-2019)
Ref. 116234/116334. Wider lugs, heavier case, and the introduction of the Datejust 41 (116334) alongside the traditional 36mm. The Datejust II (Ref. 116300/116334) was 41mm — Rolex’s answer to the market trend toward larger watches. Cal. 3135 continued with 48-hour reserve.
Generation 5: Current (2019-Present)
Ref. 126234 (36mm) / 126334 (41mm). The Cal. 3235 revolution: 70-hour reserve, Chronergy escapement, Parachrom hairspring, Superlative Chronometer certification (-2/+2 sec/day). New dial textures: Palm Motif, Fluted Motif. New colors: Mint green, olive green. The most technically advanced and aesthetically diverse Datejust generation in history.
Key Milestones Timeline
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1945 | Datejust launched (Ref. 4467) — first date-display wristwatch |
| 1945 | Jubilee bracelet introduced |
| 1953 | Cyclops lens introduced on Datejust |
| 1977 | Quick-set date mechanism (Cal. 3035) |
| 1988 | Cal. 3135 introduced (48-hour reserve) |
| 2003 | 904L Oystersteel becomes standard across all steel Rolex |
| 2009 | Datejust II 41mm launched (116334) |
| 2019 | Cal. 3235 introduced — 70-hour reserve, Chronergy |
| 2021 | Palm Motif dial introduced |
| 2023 | Fluted Motif dial introduced |
The Datejust’s Cultural Impact
The Datejust has been worn by: Dwight Eisenhower (the first US president photographed with a Rolex), Winston Churchill, Martin Luther King Jr., Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, and every generation of business leaders, entertainers, and cultural icons since 1945. It’s not the most exciting Rolex — it’s the most important one.
Browse Our Datejust Collection
Our Datejust collection at DR.WATCH spans every generation’s aesthetic — from vintage-inspired configurations to the latest dial textures. 904L Oystersteel, fluted bezels, Jubilee and Oyster bracelets, Cal. 3235-spec movements. Every dial color. Every size. Free worldwide shipping + 1-year warranty.
