When did Rolex introduce the Datejust?
Sophia Dalton
Updated on March 22, 2026
When did Rolex introduce the Datejust?
1945
When it was launched in 1945, the Datejust was the first self-winding chronometer wristwatch to indicate the date in a window on the dial. Today, it exists in a variety of sizes from 28mm to 41mm, in stainless steel, two-tone gold, and solid gold versions.
When did the Rolex GMT come out?
1954
The Rolex Oyster Perpetual Date GMT Master is part of the Rolex Professional Watch Collection. Designed in collaboration with Pan American Airways for use by their pilots and navigators, it was launched in 1954.
Does Rolex Datejust increase in value?
The Rolex Datejust, for example, is one of Rolex’s most iconic and popular models, but because they were among the most produced Rolex watches back in the days, the supply of them is also high, and so, therefore, while the value of these watches have increased over time, the cost has not skyrocketed.
Who designed the Datejust?
In 1931, Rolex launched the Oyster Perpetual, equipped with an automatic movement. In 1945, Hans Wilsdorf revolutionised the watch industry and integrated a new, simple but important feature: a display of the date. Under the reference 4467, the Rolex Datejust was born.
What is special about Rolex GMT?
The Rolex GMT launched in 1955 with a bold-for-its-time red and blue bezel, (the outer ring of the case the numbers are affixed to). It’s set to Greenwich Mean Time, which is the standard against which all time zones are decided. The bezel rotates so the wearer can set it against GMT.
What is the GMT-Master for?
Specifically designed to to allow the wearer to track two different time zones, the GMT Master was issued by Pan-Am to their crews on long-haul flights. The GMT Master 6542 became know by collectors as the “Pussy Galore” having been worn by actress Honor Blackman in the 1964 film, Goldfinger.
Is Rolex GMT A Good investment?
The Rolex GMT-Master II is one of the most popular watches in the world and while you can immediately turn a quick profit should you be lucky enough to purchase one of the stainless steel models at a retail level, some of the best investment opportunities among GMT-Master watches in 2021 are the older and discontinued …
Does Datejust hold value?
Does the Datejust hold value like the Rolex sports models? In short: No. But you are not shredding money either, as the prices of the pre-owned Datejust models have increased over the past few years.
Does Datejust 41 hold value?
Rolex Datejust 41 ref. Even though it isn’t a precious metal, stainless steel Rolex watches stand to hold their value well based on high demand alone. If you have the budget to invest in a Datejust for $7k to $9k, the Datejust 41 ref. 126300 and Datejust 36 ref. 126200 are both worth considering.
Why is it called a Datejust?
To celebrate the firm’s 40th Anniversary in 1945, Rolex produced reference 4467, an Oyster Perpetual with a date complication, and they called it The Datejust.