Buying Guide to Popular Rolex Oyster Perpetual Watches

Introduced in 1945 to celebrate the brand’s 40th anniversary, the Oyster Perpetual Datejust remains as Rolex’s most popular model seven decades on. Available in a range of sizes and materials, in addition to several bracelet and dial options, the Datejust is also Rolex’s most diverse watch collection. However, despite the diversity, the Datejust is instantly recognizable thanks to its fundamental design blueprint, which includes a round water-resistant Oyster case, a date window on the dial, a bubble date magnification lens—known as the Cyclops—protruding from its crystal, and a “Perpetual” automatic movement. Here are some of the most popular Rolex Oyster Perpetual Datejust watches in the current collection.

When Rolex debuted the Datejust 75 years ago, the watch featured a yellow gold 36mm case, a yellow gold five-link band dubbed the Jubilee bracelet, and a window on the dial that displayed the date. The 36mm size carries on to be the classic Datejust choice but Rolex has dramatically expanded the collection to include a variety of metal choices. The newest-generation Rolex Datejust 36 watches are available in full stainless steel or a mix of steel and gold.

Rolesor is the term Rolex uses when it combines steel and gold on one watch and there are three types of Rolesor offered in the Datejust 36 collection: White Rolesor, Yellow Rolesor, and Everose Rolesor. The Yellow Rolesor and Everose (Rolex’s propriety rose gold alloy) Rolesor models feature gold bezels, gold winding crowns, and gold bracelet center links while the White Rolesor watches include white gold fluted bezels on top of steel cases. Along with the metal options, Rolex also equips the Datejust 36 with the classic Jubilee bracelet or the sportier three-link Oyster bracelet. Finally, there are also plenty of Datejust 36 watches that come with diamond-set bezels and diamonds on the dials.

Another example of Rolex Datejust 36mm with Roman numerals, white dial and rose gold. 

In 2016, Rolex unveiled the new Oyster Perpetual Datejust 41 collection as a larger alternative to the classic Datejust 36. While its 41mm Oyster case is noticeably larger, the Datejust 41 retains all the classic design traits of the famed timepiece, complete with the date window that jumps instantaneously to the next day at midnight and accompanying Cyclops lens.

Similar to the Datejust 36, the Datejust 41 model is also available in stainless steel, steel with a white gold bezel, or two-tone steel and gold. While the Datejust 41 also comes with a choice of a Jubilee or Oyster bracelet, there are currently no diamond bezels in the collection. There are, however, plenty of diamond dials for those who want a lavish version of the Rolex Oyster Perpetual Datejust 41 watch.

Considered the mid-size Datejust version sporting a 31mm case, the Datejust 31 has been a mainstay in Rolex’s collection for decades. Although the Datejust 31 maintains the fundamental design language of the watch, there are some notable variances in this particular lineup.

First, unlike the Datejust 36 and Datejust 41, Rolex offers full gold (yellow, white, and Everose) versions of the Datejust 31 to sit beside the full steel and steel and gold editions. Furthermore, in addition to the customary Jubilee and Oyster bracelet choices, there are also Datejust 31 watches that come fitted with the three-link President bracelet. The President bracelet, characterized by semi-circular links, is typically paired with Rolex’s other dress watch, the Day-Date, but it also appears in the Datejust 31 collection. And finally, to serve the most discerning clients, along with diamond-set bezels Rolex also makes full diamond pavé dials available in the Datejust 31 watch range.

It may come as a surprise to some, but the Lady-Datejust is rumored to be the best-selling Rolex watch model of all time. The Lady-Datejust was initially introduced in 1957 as the ideal accompaniment to the men’s Datejust watch that debuted over a decade prior.

Although the Lady-Datejust was traditionally sized at 26mm, in 2015 Rolex revamped the collection with slightly larger 28mm cases to satisfy modern expectations of bigger watch sizes. Today, the Lady-Datejust 28 lineup is a wide-ranging one, ranging from simpler steel watches to precious-metal editions blanketed with diamonds. Similar to the Datejust 31, there are steel, steel and gold, and full gold versions of the Lady-Datejust. What’s more, Rolex also makes a full platinum Lady-Datejust, complete with a platinum President bracelet.

With its appealing combination of classic design, style variety, and impeccable quality, the popular Rolex Oyster Perpetual Datejust will undoubtedly remain as one of the leading luxury watches for the foreseeable future.

Find out about more about the Oyster Perptual at Rolex official site