Rolex Datejust

Rolex Datejust
Rolex Datejust on Jubilee bracelet with Turn-O-Graph bezel
Type Automatic
Display Analog
Introduced 1945

The Rolex Oyster Perpetual Datejust is a certified, self-winding chronometer wristwatch manufactured by Rolex. When it was launched in 1945, the Datejust was the first wristwatch with an automatically changing date function.[1][2]

History

Rolex introduced the original Datejust (reference 4467) in 1945 to celebrate the company's 40th anniversary.[3] It was available only in 18 karat yellow gold and had a small bubble back winder with a deeply domed back. It also featured the company's waterproof Oyster case (first introduced in 1926[3]), a fluted bezel, and the new Jubilee bracelet (so named for the occasion).[4][3]


Over the years, the Datejust movement went through subtle improvements to its features and an expansion of design options. Several years after its debut, In 1954, Rolex added the now famous Cyclops lens as a major update.[5]

The Datejust is offered with two classic Rolex bracelets: the Jubilee and the Oyster. The original Datejust was launched with a case size of 36mm. Later, however, ladies' and mid-sized versions became available. The Turn-O-Graph model was introduced in 1955 as an award given to US Air Force pilots returning from combat missions. It featured a rotating bezel marked to 60 minutes, which can be used to measure time intervals. Datejusts of this type have been nicknamed "Thunderbirds". Chuck Yeager wore one of these models when he broke the sound barrier.[1] This would be the basis for the Rolex Explorer (designed for Sir Edmund Hillary's Mount Everest expedition), the Rolex Submariner, and the Rolex Sea Dweller.[2]

In 2009, the Rolex Oyster Perpetual Datejust II was released. At 41mm in diameter (excluding the crown) its case is bigger than the original Datejust.[6]

In 2016, the Rolex Oyster Perpetual Datejust 41 was released. The watch comes in stainless steel, and two-tone stainless steel and 18k yellow or 18k everose gold (Rolex's version of rose gold) bracelets. The 2016 41mm Datejust is on an Oyster or Jubilee bracelet. While the Datejust 41 has a similar-sized 41mm diameter case as the Datejust II, the Datejust 41 has smaller indexes and a thinner bezel compared to the Datejust II.[7]

Though there has been a general trend toward larger sized watches from 2001, spurring Rolex to increase the size of the Datejust in 2009, there is some belief that watch sizes are on the decrease. Rolex still advertises the current 36mm Datejust as a men's watch and many purists believe it is the standard and indeed shall always remain the classic Rolex.[8]

Several of the male characters in the movie The Informers wear the Rolex Datejust. In the movie American Psycho, Patrick Bateman wears the Rolex Datejust 16013, two tone yellow gold with a vertical lined tapestry gold coloured dial. Both are adaptations of Bret Easton Ellis novels.

Paul Newman is seen wearing a Datejust in the film The Color of Money.

Harrison Ford sports a Datejust 36mm in the 1980s movie Frantic. It had a white Roman numeral dial, a white gold bezel and steel jubilee bracelet and case.

Bill Murray wears a Datejust with a black dial in the movie Lost in Translation.

Presidents Bill Clinton, Eisenhower and Ronald Reagan all wore the Rolex Datejust while in office. Eisenhower's' Datejust had a white Roman numeral dial, a stainless steel engine turned bezel and a steel jubilee bracelet and steel case.

British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, who had a rather large wrist, wore the first Datejust 36mm model while in office during WWII.

References

  1. 1 2 Edwards, Frank (1997). Wristwatches: A Connoisseur's Guide. New York: Firefly. p. 160. ISBN 978-1-55209-083-1.
  2. 1 2 Brozek, John E. (2002). The Rolex Report: An Unauthorized Reference Book For The Rolex Enthusiast. New York: Infoquest. p. 288. ISBN 978-0-9723133-0-8.
  3. 1 2 3 "A Week On The Wrist: The Rolex Datejust". www.hodinkee.com.
  4. ↑ "Rolex Datejust: A casual Luxury Watch with Legendary Status". Buy & Sell | Pre-owned Certified Luxury Watches - Rolex, Cartier and many More. 2016-12-15. Retrieved 2016-12-27.
  5. ↑ "WatchTime Wednesday: The History of the Rolex Datejust". Monochrome Watches. 2014-08-27. Retrieved 2016-12-27.
  6. ↑ "Rolex Datejust Watch - Rolex Swiss Luxury Watches". Rolex.
  7. ↑ "Full Review - The new Rolex Datejust 41 from Baselworld 2016, with new case, new 3235 movement and comeback of the Jubilee (live pics & price)". Monochrome Watches. 12 April 2016.
  8. ↑ "24 Months Wearing the Rolex Datejust – An In-depth Review". timeandtidewatches.com. 22 September 2015.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.