Rolex model
Rolex Datejust: history, sizes and official videos
The Rolex Datejust, launched in 1945, was the first self-winding waterproof chronometer wristwatch with the date in a window on the dial. This page covers its history, the Lady-Datejust, the movements, what drives value and the official Rolex videos.
- Introduced
- 1945 (Ref. 4467)
- Sizes today
- 31, 36 and 41 mm
- Movements today
- Calibre 3235 (36 and 41 mm), 2236 (31 mm)
- Water resistance
- 100 m (330 ft)
Where the Datejust comes from
Rolex launched the Datejust in 1945, the year of its 40th anniversary, as Reference 4467. It was the first self-winding waterproof chronometer wristwatch to show the date in a window on the dial, at 3 o'clock. The first watch was 36 mm and came in 18k yellow gold with a fluted bezel. For it Rolex created the five-piece Jubilee bracelet, named after the anniversary. Early watches changed the date slowly around midnight. Later Rolex made the change instantaneous, and in the 1950s it added the Cyclops lens over the date window.
How the Datejust developed
The Datejust is less a single watch than a family. Sizes grew and shrank over the decades, and movements were renewed several times. The table shows the main steps.
| Series | Years | References | Case | Movement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Original | 1945 – 1950s | 4467 (1945) | 36 mm, fluted bezel, Jubilee bracelet | Self-winding; calibre 730 in steel models of the late 1940s |
| Thinner case | from 1957 | various | 36 mm | Calibre 1065 allowed a thinner case; calibre 1570 chosen in 1965 |
| Quickset date | from 1977 | various | 36 mm; Oysterquartz Datejust also appeared in 1977 | Calibre 3035 with Quickset date; Oysterquartz uses an in-house quartz movement |
| Calibre 3135 | from 1988 | various | 26, 31, 34 and 36 mm | Calibre 3135, 48-hour power reserve |
| Datejust II | from 2009 | various | 41 mm | Larger case, 41 mm |
| Current | from 2016 | various | 31, 36 and 41 mm | Calibre 3235 (about 70 hours) in 36 and 41 mm; 2236 (about 55 hours) in 31 mm |
Today the Datejust comes in 31, 36 and 41 mm in Oystersteel or 18 ct yellow, white or Everose gold. Bezels are smooth, domed, fluted or diamond-set. Rolex certifies the watch as a Superlative Chronometer and states 100 m (330 ft) of water resistance.
Lady-Datejust and smaller sizes
The Lady-Datejust is the Datejust in a smaller case, with the same Oyster construction and date window. A 26 mm model was replaced by a 28 mm version announced at Baselworld 2015, powered by calibre 2236. The 31 mm size uses calibre 2235 in older watches and calibre 2236 today. These smaller watches often come with diamond-set bezels or dials, and mother-of-pearl dials are a recurring option.
What is a Rolex Datejust worth?
The Datejust was made in huge numbers and in many versions, so values vary widely. What counts most is the size and model, the case material (steel, two-tone, gold), the bezel and bracelet, whether dial, hands and bezel are original, the condition and whether box and papers are present. Serviced watches with unpolished cases and original parts are easier to sell than heavily polished or mixed-parts watches. Rolex itself describes the Datejust as its classic watch of reference, and a clean example from any decade is a good starting point for an estimate. We do not quote auction figures here because we could not verify a documented Datejust result.
Own a Datejust? Upload a few photos and get a free value estimate: estimate my Rolex Datejust · How much is my watch worth?
Official Rolex Datejust videos
All videos come from the official Rolex YouTube channel. They show the Datejust 31, 36 and 41, the Lady-Datejust and its dials and bezels – the setting guide for the Lady-Datejust is How to Set Your Lady-Datejust.
Rolex Datejust – Make a Date of a Day2026-07-02
Rolex New Watches 2026 – Datejust 412026-04-13
Rolex Lady-Datejust – Graceful Elegance2025-10-30
Rolex Datejust – When Every Date Counts2025-05-30
Rolex Lady-Datejust – Smaller Case, Same Ambition2025-05-24
Rolex Datejust – Light and Shade2025-03-31
Rolex User Guides – How to Set Your Lady-Datejust2025-02-04
Rolex Datejust 31 – Diamond-Set Bezel and Hour Markers2025-01-23
Rolex Datejust 36 – Fluted Bezel2024-11-04
Rolex Datejust 36 – Everose Gold2024-11-04
Rolex Datejust – The Mother-of-Pearl Dial2024-11-04
Rolex Datejust 36 – Make a Day of a Date2024-07-31
Revealing the Radiance of Diamonds2022-03-31
Rolex Lady-Datejust2021-04-07
Rolex User Guides – How To Set Your Rolex Datejust 312021-03-17
Rolex User Guides – How to Set Your Rolex Datejust 412021-03-17
Rolex Lady-Datejust 282016-03-16
More Rolex videos, sorted by model: all official Rolex playlists.
Sources (4)
SwissWatchExperts is not affiliated with Rolex. Brand and model names are trademarks of their owners; the videos are embedded from the official Rolex YouTube channel.
Frequently asked questions
When was the Rolex Datejust introduced?
Rolex introduced the Datejust in 1945, in the year of its 40th anniversary, as Reference 4467. It was the first self-winding waterproof chronometer wristwatch with the date in a window on the dial.
What is the Jubilee bracelet?
A five-piece link bracelet that Rolex created in 1945 specifically for the Datejust. It was named after the company's 40th anniversary and is still offered on the Datejust today.
What sizes does the Datejust come in?
The original was 36 mm. Today Rolex lists 31, 36 and 41 mm. The Lady-Datejust 28 mm was announced in 2015 and older Lady-Datejust watches measure 26 mm.
Which movement is inside a Datejust?
It depends on the year. Calibre 3135 powered the Datejust from 1988, and calibre 3235 with about 70 hours of power reserve is used in the current 36 and 41 mm watches. The 31 mm size has calibre 2236.
What is the difference between the Datejust II and the Datejust 41?
The Datejust II was introduced in 2009 at 41 mm. The Datejust 41 of 2016 replaced it at the same size, with a new movement and updated case.
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