[F]Daan’s favorite Rolex Date Just doesn’t exist yet

Mighty Rolex DateJust turns 80 this year. It will be one of the longest and most continuous production watches out there, but it is not a small feat. At Fratello, we intend to celebrate a series of articles on models. Today is my turn to choose my best favorite of all time. But that’s not easy. At one point I thought I had already bought my favorite Rolex dating Just. But I sold it just a few months later. I have never regretted that decision, but sometimes the dates go beyond my heart. Ultimately, it is still one of the most classic watches, with countless variations. Perhaps that’s exactly why picking your favorite is so difficult.

One thing is certain:If you buy Rolex DateJust again, it must be the 36mm version. At one point I owned a 34mm date just and felt it was too small for my wrist. I also tried 39, and 40-MM Explorers at Get-Togethers, but that didn’t work either. My Rolex Explorer 114270 is 36mm wide And I feel it’s perfect on my 17cm wrist. That watch is probably the reason why I don’t own a date at the moment.

My first Rolex

At the beginning of my journey to collecting clocks, I decided it was my first Rolex time. At the time, I had decided from the 70s to 1603 Rolex dating just with either a shaved dial and reference 14270 or 114270. They had both models so I was able to try them side by side. As a result of that comparison, I focused my search on a more elegant 1603 using a jubilee bracelet.

A while later, I found the perfect example at Oliver and Clark in the US with a blue pie-pain dial, a lovely patina and a slightly stretched jubilee bracelet. I took the risk and decided to import it into the EU. Luckily, it all worked, but after I went with the watch a few months later, I wasn’t sure I had made the right choice. I was not prepared for that plexiglass vulnerability and Zeing and Jungley Jubilee vulnerability. So I decided to sell it and replace it with the Cartier Santos Garbe XL.

Since then, I have added Rolex Explorer, Reference 114270 to my collection. That’s right, the watch I decided not to buy when I compared it to DateJust. Again, that explorer is probably why I don’t own the date at this time. But what if I just bought a Rolex date? Which will it be?

Image: Oliver and Clark

A little more pizza

Of course, like Thomas, I also like the Classic Rolex Dating 1601 Classic, with a shaved dial, grooved bezel and a jubilee bracelet. However, I owned a 1603 that came very close, but it was not a success. I think you’ll soon get bored of that classic look. Maybe I should look for a more despicable date just. So, reference 126234 with palm dial could be a great option.

I usually don’t have much of the crazy details of the watch, but for some reason the palm motif on the green dial speaks to me. It adds a bit of an extra to the classic DateJust, giving it a slightly more serious look. Its stainless steel oyster case and jubilee bracelet are more sturdy than the dating just of the 60s and 70s. It all will make it the perfect summer watch.

Image: Oliver and Clark

Currently, that place in the collection is reserved for my explorer and I’m not sure if I’m ready to pay a premium for just my recent obsolete date. But if money isn’t the purpose, I definitely add it to my collection.

Image: Wind Vintage

More pizzas

It also counts to the following options: This appeared on my radar when I visited a watch friend who worked at a used watch boutique at the Conservatory Hotel in Amsterdam. The boutique is now closed, but it used to be the Rolex watch Barhalla. Sometimes I stopped by to see how my watch friends were doing and if they had an interesting watch. One day I didn’t even need to ask and he told me he had something for me. He went to the back of the store and returned in an old Rolex box. The riveted oyster bracelet included a full golden date. I’m sure RJ will approve it.

Image: Wind Vintage

That particular one had a beautiful soft black dial. However, if you need to decide now, choose one with the white dial. I started looking around a bit and found some great examples. What do you think about Reference 1601 with Leaf Hands? However, the slightly modern 16018 with a silver dial is also a good option. But then I came across a full gold reference 16078 in a bark finish with the bezel and central link on its jubilee bracelet. I think that will be the ultimate date for me. That said, the version with a white dial might be more mine.

Image: Bulang & Sons

After all, oysterquartz?

But in the end I’m still happy with the Rolex Explorer, Reference 114270. Maybe like Rex, I’ll be Oysterquartz after all. We saw something lovely with a Buckley dial at the recent Red Bar Amsterdam event at Ace Jewelers. But maybe I should wait for the correct date to arrive. But for now, of my two candidates, the white full gold reference 16078 leads with a slight advantage, so my favorite date is just right.

Have you already found your perfect Rolex date just? Please let me know in the comments below.