Every Rolex Datejust reference, 1945 to today. From the gold "bubble back" 4467 to the modern 41mm 126300, the Cal. 3235 36mm 126200, the Lady-Datejust 28mm and the gem-set Pearlmaster.
Introduced1945
References22
Spanning1940s - 2010s
The Rolex Datejust is the most-produced watch line in luxury horology. Launched in 1945 to mark the brand's 40th anniversary, the original ref. 4467 was the first wristwatch with an automatically changing date in a window. Eighty years later the Datejust still does that one thing, in dozens of case sizes (28mm, 31mm, 34mm, 36mm, 41mm), every metal Rolex makes (steel, two-tone, yellow gold, white gold, Everose, platinum), and dial variants too numerous to count.
Three case-size eras structure the modern catalogue: the classic 36mm (1601, 16234, 116234, 126234), the 41mm "Datejust 41" introduced 2016 (126300 and siblings), and the women's Datejust 31 (178240, 278274) and Lady-Datejust 28 (279174). Movements move from the early Cal. 1520 / 1565 to 3035, the long-running 3135, and the current 3235 with Chronergy escapement.
Filter:
4467
Bubble Back
1945-1948
36mm case50m WR
DialSilver or champagne, applied gold indices
BezelFluted yellow gold
MovementCal. A.295 (Rolex perpetual rotor)
BraceletJubilee yellow gold
First Datejust. Made for Rolex's 40-year jubilee. The thick "bubble back" caseback was needed to clear the rotor of the Cal. A.295. Yellow gold only at launch.
6305
1953-1957
36mm case50m WR
DialSilver, "Officially Certified Chronometer"
BezelFluted yellow gold
MovementCal. 645
First Datejust with a Cyclops magnifier over the date - the now-iconic 2.5x magnifying lens above the 3 oclock window.
6605
1957-1959
36mm case50m WR
DialSilver, applied indices
BezelFluted yellow gold
MovementCal. 1066
Last bubble-back Datejust. The case became flatter on the next reference, ending the rounded silhouette that defined the early years.
1601
1960-1977
36mm case50m WR
DialMany: silver, champagne, blue, grey, "linen", "wide-boy", various subdial finishes
The longest-produced Datejust reference and the entry into vintage Rolex collecting for many. Seventeen years of production with dial variants tracked by year and sub-style.
The 1601's all-steel sibling. Engine-turned bezel was a sportier alternative to the fluted gold; discontinued from Rolex's catalogue in the 1980s but returned to vintage demand.
Six-digit successor to the 16234. Solid bracelet links replaced the folded centre links of the 5-digit era. The "Wimbledon" green-Roman-numeral dial appeared on this reference.
126300
2016-present
41mm case100m WR
DialMany incl. blue, silver, slate, sundust, mint, "Wimbledon" Roman
Datejust 41 base reference: 41mm steel case, smooth bezel. Replaced the short-lived 116300. Cal. 3235 with Chronergy escapement and 70-hour power reserve.
Current two-tone Datejust 36 with fluted yellow gold bezel.
278240
2018-present
31mm case100m WR
DialMany incl. silver, MOP, gem-set
BezelSmooth steel
MovementCal. 2236 (silicon Syloxi hairspring)
Current Datejust 31 in steel - mid-size women's reference. Smaller-case sister to 126200.
278273
2018-present
31mm case100m WR
DialMany gem-set + Roman + classic
BezelDiamond-set white gold
MovementCal. 2236
Diamond-bezel Datejust 31 in two-tone white gold/steel.
279174
2018-present
28mm case100m WR
DialMany: silver, MOP, blue, gem-set
BezelFluted white gold
MovementCal. 2236
Lady-Datejust 28 in steel + white gold. Current entry-size Rolex for women, with the silicon Syloxi hairspring.
No references match all selected filters.
Bezel decoder: smooth, fluted, gem-set
Bezel options are central to Datejust identity. Smooth bezel = base reference (1601, 16200, 126200). Fluted = traditional Rolex signature, only struck in gold or platinum (so a "fluted Datejust in steel" is two-tone with the gold bezel). Engine-turned = a vintage-era textured bezel (1603, 16030). Diamond-set = 178240 family in 31mm. The reference number's third digit historically encoded the bezel: 0 = smooth, 3 = engine-turned, 4 = fluted (5-digit era).
Why the Jubilee bracelet exists
Rolex designed the Jubilee bracelet specifically for the 1945 Datejust launch, to mark the company's 40-year jubilee. Five-link, supple, dressier than the Oyster. The Jubilee remained Datejust-exclusive for decades (and is still the default option) before migrating to the GMT-Master II BLNR / BLRO in 2018. Customers can specify Oyster or Jubilee with most Datejust orders; the President bracelet stays exclusive to the Day-Date and Datejust 31/28.
Lady-Datejust and Pearlmaster
The 28mm and 31mm Datejusts have their own reference family. The Lady-Datejust 28 (279xxx) is the modern entry-size Rolex for women, with Cal. 2236 and silicon Syloxi hairspring. The Datejust 31 (278xxx) is the most-popular mid-size in the women's line. Outside the standard collection, the Pearlmaster (refs 81xxx, 86xxx) is a gem-set Datejust derivative on a five-piece-link Pearlmaster bracelet, only in gold and reserved for the high-jewellery tier.