Let’s take a look at the story of this iconic Rolex watch that has served as the backbone of Rolex catalog for many years now.

Besides the name Datejust, you might have heard this watch be referred to as the “Thunderbird”. This nickname applies to any Datejust watch that is fitted with a rotating bezel. It has earned this nickname because during the late 1950s the U.S. Air Force Thunderbird squadron frequently used Rolex watches with Rotating bezels.

Rolex Datejust was first introduced in 1945 as a means to commemorate the company’s 40th anniversary. While a date display is completely standard for many contemporary watches, it was very special at the time. In fact Rolex Datejust was the world’s very first self-winding wristwatch that had a window for the date that would automatically change over at midnight.

Unlike a lot of other Rolex watch lines, Rolex Datejust was not specifically designed or intended for one particular sport,  lifestyle activity or environment. While the Submariner was built for SCUBA divers, and the Daytona for race car drivers, the Datejust is simply an elegant,  classic and reliable wristwatch, with a timeless and versatile aesthetic, that was designed to be worn everyday.

The appearance of Rolex Datejust has not changed too much over the years. There were a couple of updates introduced to increase the functionality and some style updates too, but nothing too drastic.

By the late 50s, after Rolex had introduced their Caliber 1560 movement, the appearance of this iconic time peace was pretty much set. The next update came only in the late 1970s, when Rolex introduced their Caliber 3035 movement with the reference 16oxx series. The new generation of Datejust watches added the ‘quickset’ date feature, which enabled users to independently adjust the date display without also adjusting the hands displaying the time.

The next big update came in 2009 with the arrival of Datejust II. Rolex introduced a new design, because of the public's desire for a larger watch. For decades, the standard men’s Datejust measured 36mm; however with the introduction of the Datejust II, Rolex had added a 41mm version to be offered alongside the standard 36mm model.

Even though the  41mm Datejust II satisfied the public’s request for a larger watch, the new timepiece didn’t immediately catch on. After a couple of years, Rolex pulled the plug  on the Datejust II collection. However, Rolex’s over-sized Datejust resurfaced in 2016 under the Datejust 41 name, with a new reference number, a new movement, and a couple of minor aesthetic revisions.

The Datejust 41 continues to remain in production today alongside its various siblings ranging in size from 28mm to 41mm, and it is available in a big variety of different combinations. The Datejust collection is available with more dial, bezel, and bracelet options than any other line of Rolex watches, guaranteeing that there is a perfect Rolex Datejust for just about every wrist size and aesthetic preference.

Which Rolex Datejust would you pick for yourself?