“…A timeless emblem of elegance and precision, the Oyster Perpetual Datejust stands as one of Rolex’s most storied creations, an icon that has journeyed alongside the brand through decades of innovation and style. In celebration of this enduring legacy, Rolex has joined forces with global design authority Wallpaper* to unveil ‘Oyster Perpetual Datejust – A Watch that Made History’, the first official chronicle dedicated to the watch that has shaped generations. The result is a visually captivating volume—an ode to craftsmanship, design, and the poetry of time itself…”
Penned by historian and watch connoisseur Nicholas Foulkes, the 224-page book is the second in a series exploring the maison’s most emblematic timepieces, following the acclaimed ‘Oyster Perpetual Submariner – The Watch that Unlocked the Deep’ (2024). That inaugural title revisited the pioneering spirit behind the world’s first diver’s watch, waterproof to 100 metres, and the intrepid explorers who tested its early prototypes.
In ‘Oyster Perpetual Datejust–A Watch that Made History’, Foulkes traces the evolution of the Datejust—the brand’s first waterproof, self-winding chronometer wristwatch, distinguished by its date window at three o’clock. Blending newly commissioned imagery with archival photographs from Rolex, the book paints a vivid portrait of over eighty years of horological artistry. It follows the watch’s journey from its debut in 1945 to the introduction of the now-iconic Cyclops lens in 1953, while spotlighting Rolex Testimonees from the worlds of sport and the arts, who embody the brand’s timeless pursuit of excellence.
“Of all its models, the Datejust is the watch that many regard as Rolex’s most representative timepiece. However, do not let familiarity blunt your appreciation of what is a historically significant creation that did much to define the course that watch design would take during the second half of the 20th century; the ultimate chameleon adapting itself effortlessly to every era since its launch in 1945, it has remained true to itself throughout, and the 80-year-old original is still very recognisable in its 2025 descendant.”
As Nicholas Foulkes reflects, the Datejust’s brilliance lies not only in its design but in its ability to transcend time—remaining as modern and relevant today as the day it was conceived. He also recalls the words of Hans Wilsdorf, Rolex’s visionary founder, who described the Datejust at its 1945 debut as “a timepiece that encapsulates every discovery made to date.”
