Timeless style
The latest versions of Rolex’s Oyster Perpetual Datejust and Day-Date
Prized for its precision, a Rolex watch is as much about timeless style as anything else.
Launched in the 1940s and 50s, the Oyster Perpetual Datejust and Day-Date have become classics, constantly redesigned over the years to enhance their contemporary appeal.
Rolex’s prowess in fashioning dials is demonstrated in the new Day-Date 36 quintet, boasting colourful faces including a novel design with a concentric gradient.
A green and a brown ombre dial, respectively, grace the yellow gold and Everose gold versions. The dial is additionally embellished with diamond hour markers in gold settings, with baguette-cut diamonds at 6 and 9 o’clock.
Decorative stones render pastel hues for feminine dials of two other variants with a diamond-set bezel. The yellow gold model charms with a slightly veined turquoise dial, while a white gold watch has a pretty pink opal dial, both with shimmering hour markers and Roman numerals VI and IX in gold set with diamonds.
Housed in a white gold case, the fifth new Day-Date 36 outshines with a diamond-paved dial and 10 baguettecut sapphires in different colours indicating the hours. Moreover, the bezel and bracelet sparkle with brilliant-cut diamonds.
The three-piece link President bracelet has been a hallmark since the DayDate made its debut in 1956.
A technical feat, it was the first calendar wristwatch to display, in addition to the date, the day of the week spelt out in full in a window at 12 o’clock. Other features include Rolex’s waterproof Oyster case invented in 1926, and Cyclops magnifying lens patented by the Swiss brand in 1953.
Worn by eminent political figures, the Day-Date also became known as “the presidents’ watch”.
While the Day-Date timepieces are in precious metals, the new Datejust models are in Rolesor, a combination of gold and steel, registered by Rolex in 1933.
Another milestone in 1945, the Datejust was the first self-winding waterproof chronometer wristwatch to indicate the date in a window on the dial at 3 o’clock. With the characteristic Jubilee bracelet, it was initially designed for men. Over the years, the classic has come in many guises and sizes that also appeal to women. Feminine reinterpretations of the Datejust 31 are in yellow Rolesor or Everose Rolesor, paired with an olive-green or a rosé colour, sunray-finish dial. The olive-green dial is more dazzling with the yellow gold Roman numeral VI set with 11 diamonds.
The five-piece link Jubilee and threepiece link Oyster bracelets are respectively matched with the new yellow Rolesor and Everose Rolesor versions.
The larger Datejust 36 has been reworked in white Rolesor. Matched with a Jubilee bracelet, the first version has a fluted bezel and a bolder black sunray-finish dial.
Differing in the Oyster bracelet, the second model is more glamorous, with a diamond-set bezel and white mother-of-pearl dial adorned with 10 diamond hour markers in white gold settings.
The aesthetic refinements of the Oyster Perpetual Datejust and DayDate are accompanied by new mechanical movements, entirely developed and manufactured by Rolex.
Last year, the Swiss brand began equipping the Datejust 31 with Calibre 2236 and the Datejust 36 with Calibre 3235, both featuring a self-winding module via the Perpetual rotor, while respectively offering a power reserve of approximately 55 and 70 hours.
This year, the Day-Date 36 has also been upgraded with Calibre 3255 with a 70-hour power reserve.
All of the new women’s watches carry the Superlative Chronometer certification, which ensures precision
and performance.