Launched for Rolex's 40th anniversary in 1945, the Datejust was the world's first self-winding wristwatch chronometer to display the date in a window on the dial. It introduced two major innovations at once: a date complication shown on the dial (made instantaneous at midnight from 1955 onward) and the five-link Jubilee bracelet, designed expressly for the new model. The original reference 4467 came in 18k yellow gold on a fluted bezel and Jubilee bracelet, setting a template Rolex still follows today.
In 1953 Rolex added the cyclops magnifier above the date, a 2.5x lens that has since become an instantly recognisable Datejust signature. In 1956 the all-gold version was hived off as the Day-Date "President", leaving the Datejust as the everyday classic in steel, two-tone Rolesor, or gold. The Lady-Datejust (26mm) followed in 1957.
The 36mm Oyster case remained the Datejust standard from 1945 until 2009. The 1601 (fluted bezel) and 1603 (engine-turned bezel) of 1959-1977, the 16014/16030/16234 family of 1977-2009, and the popular two-tone Rolesor 16013/16233 are now collector staples. In 2009 the "six-digit" 116234 family arrived with reinforced Twinlock crowns and slightly modernised proportions, retaining the trusted Cal. 3135. In 2017 Rolex introduced the larger Datejust 41 (reference 126300) and the new Cal. 3235, with 70-hour reserve, Chronergy escapement, and ParaFlex shock absorbers.
The current Datejust family (since 2018) comprises the 126200 (steel, smooth bezel), 126234 (steel + white-gold fluted bezel) and 126300 (Datejust 41). Dials range from Wimbledon (slate with Roman numerals) and classic silver to motif options like palm and floral, giving the Datejust the deepest customisation menu in the Rolex catalogue: case size, bracelet (Jubilee or Oyster), bezel, dial colour and indices yield thousands of permutations.
Today the most-bought Datejust references are the 16234 (classic 36mm), 116234, current 126234, and Datejust 41 126300. On the vintage side, the 1601 "pie-pan" dial and sigma-dial 16014 are collector favourites.
Bedesten Watches has sold authentic Rolex Datejust references in Istanbul since 1999. We regularly carry 1601, 16014, 16233 Rolesor, 16234, 116234, and the current 126200/126234/126300. Visit our Suadiye store or message us on WhatsApp +90 532 327 88 26.