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The story
The Datejust of 1945, reference 4467, combined Rolex’s waterproof Oyster case, its Perpetual self-winding rotor and chronometer certification with something new: a date in a window that changed at midnight. The Jubilee bracelet was designed for it, and the Cyclops lens over the date followed in the 1950s.
Since then the Datejust has become the most varied watch Rolex makes: three main sizes today, smooth or fluted bezels, Oyster or Jubilee bracelets and dozens of dials. The movement has kept pace, from the 1570 of the classic 1601 to today’s calibre 3235.
| Years | References | Calibre | What changed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1945–1950s | 4467, 5030, 5031, 6074, 6075 | 710, 730, 1065 | Gold first; Jubilee bracelet; Cyclops c.1954–57 |
| c.1960–1977 | 1600, 1601, 1603 | 1560, 1570 | The classic vintage Datejust |
| 1977–1988 | 16000, 16013, 16014, 16030 | 3035 | Quickset date, sapphire crystal |
| 1988–c.2004 | 16200, 16220, 16233, 16234 | 3135 | 5-digit era |
| c.2004–2018 | 116200, 116233, 116234; Datejust II 116300/116334 (41 mm, 2009) | 3135, 3136 | Maxi dials; 41 mm Datejust II |
| 2016–today | 126300/126334 (41), 126200/126234 (36), 278xxx (31) | 3235, 2236 (31 mm) | 70 h reserve |
Reading a Datejust reference
In 126334 the 126 is the current generation, 3 the 41 mm size (126300/126334) — 1262xx is 36 mm — the 3 before the last digit a fluted bezel, and the final 4 White Rolesor, steel with a white-gold bezel. The 31 mm models carry 278xxx references.
Older five-digit references such as 16234 (36 mm, fluted white-gold bezel) follow the same logic; the 41 mm Datejust II of 2009 carried 116300-series numbers.
Current models and prices
Every Datejust reference Rolex currently lists for India, with the retail price shown on rolex.com/en-in on 8 October 2026, including taxes. Where a reference comes with several dials or bracelets, the range is shown.
| Reference | Model | Case | Calibre | India price, 8 Oct 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 126200 | Datejust 36 | Oystersteel | 3235 | ₹7,93,000 |
| 126203 | Datejust 36 | Yellow Rolesor | 3235 | ₹14,63,000 |
| 126231 | Datejust 36 | Everose Rolesor | 3235 | ₹17,10,000 – ₹17,85,000 |
| 126233 | Datejust 36 | Yellow Rolesor | 3235 | ₹14,74,000 |
| 126234 | Datejust 36 | White Rolesor | 3235 | ₹9,64,000 – ₹12,42,500 |
| 126281RBR | Datejust 36 | Everose Rolesor, diamond bezel | 3235 | ₹25,88,000 |
| 126283RBR | Datejust 36 | Yellow Rolesor, diamond bezel | 3235 | ₹22,88,000 |
| 126284RBR | Datejust 36 | White Rolesor, diamond bezel | 3235 | ₹17,58,000 – ₹20,58,500 |
| 126300 | Datejust 41 | Oystersteel | 3235 | ₹8,68,000 |
| 126303 | Datejust 41 | Yellow Rolesor | 3235 | ₹17,15,000 |
| 126331 | Datejust 41 | Everose Rolesor | 3235 | ₹17,04,000 – ₹19,08,000 |
| 126333 | Datejust 41 | Yellow Rolesor | 3235 | ₹16,51,000 – ₹18,55,000 |
| 126334 | Datejust 41 | White Rolesor | 3235 | ₹11,36,000 – ₹13,61,500 |
| 278240 | Datejust 31 | Oystersteel | 2236 | ₹7,50,000 – ₹7,71,500 |
| 278241 | Datejust 31 | Everose Rolesor | 2236 | ₹13,83,000 – ₹14,79,000 |
| 278243 | Datejust 31 | Yellow Rolesor | 2236 | ₹15,01,000 – ₹15,86,000 |
| 278271 | Datejust 31 | Everose Rolesor | 2236 | ₹13,28,000 – ₹16,39,000 |
| 278274 | Datejust 31 | White Rolesor | 2236 | ₹9,32,500 – ₹10,93,500 |
| 278288RBR | Datejust 31 | Yellow gold, diamond bezel | 2236 | ₹55,14,000 |
| 278289RBR | Datejust 31 | White gold, diamond bezel | 2236 | ₹56,37,000 |
| 278341RBR | Datejust 31 | Everose Rolesor, diamond bezel | 2236 | ₹16,93,000 – ₹19,62,000 |
| 278343RBR | Datejust 31 | Yellow Rolesor, diamond bezel | 2236 | ₹17,25,000 – ₹19,07,000 |
| 278344RBR | Datejust 31 | White Rolesor, diamond bezel | 2236 | ₹12,65,000 |
| 278381RBR | Datejust 31 | Everose Rolesor, diamond bezel | 2236 | ₹24,33,000 |
| 278383RBR | Datejust 31 | Yellow Rolesor, diamond bezel | 2236 | ₹20,90,000 – ₹21,54,000 |
| 278384RBR | Datejust 31 | White Rolesor, diamond bezel | 2236 | ₹18,54,500 – ₹19,39,500 |
The calibre
Calibre 3235 drives the Datejust 36 and 41 with about 70 hours of power reserve; the Datejust 31 uses the smaller calibre 2236 with a Syloxi silicon hairspring and about 55 hours. The previous generation used calibre 3135 (about 48 hours).
Materials
Oystersteel; Rolesor, Rolex’s name for steel combined with 18 ct gold, in yellow, white and Everose versions; and solid gold on some 31 mm models. Fluted bezels are always solid gold, even on steel watches.
- Bezel, metal digit and bracelet that match the reference
- A sharp date under a Cyclops lens of the right magnification
- Calibre 3235 or 2236 for current references
- Even fluting on a fluted bezel
- Aftermarket diamond dials or bezels on non-gem references
- A plain steel bezel on a reference that ends in 4 (white gold fluted)
- Wrong-generation bracelet or clasp
- A date that does not change cleanly at midnight
Frequently asked questions
31, 36 and 41 mm today; the Lady-Datejust is 28 mm.
Yes. On Rolesor Datejusts the fluted bezel is 18 ct white, yellow or Everose gold.
Reference 4467 of 1945.