Back in 1945, the Rolex Datejust was the first wristwatch to display the date on the dial. Today it is a classic timepiece and one of the most recognizable watches ever made. The original Datejust did not have the iconic 2.5 times magnification Cyclops lens that is now associated with the Datejust. You can see the first Rolex Datejust below.

In the 1950s Rolex added the Cyclops lens to the Datejust. Many famous people have worn the watch and Dwight Eisenhower’s Datejust can be viewed here. Above are three variations of the current Rolex Datejust. Diamond numerals can be seen on the far left, with Roman numerals in the center and Arabic numerals on the right.

The watch was created for the 40th anniversary of Rolex and was originally meant to be called the Jubilee. Instead the name Datejust was used, however, the bracelet shown on the left and right variations kept the name and is now know as the Jubilee bracelet.

While purchasing a new Rolex Datejust isn’t in the budget for most people, vintage Datejusts can be had for a fraction of what you’d pay for one new. One of the most well-respected and reasonable stores to find vintage Datejusts and other Rolex watches is H.Q. Hamilton.

Whatever your view of the brand, there is no denying Rolex watches are well-built with an amazing history behind them.

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