The Two Tone Ladies’ Date Rolex Watch Explained
The ladies’ Rolex Datejust watch is famous the world over. In fact, it has the honor of the being the top selling Rolex watch, ever. However, there’s another women’s Rolex watch with a date window that’s not as well known—the ladies’ Date watch. Today we take a closer look at the history of the two tone ladies’ Date watch and compare three generations of this classic women’s Rolex dress timepiece.
The Design Traits of the Two Tone Ladies’ Date
Before we compare three different generations of the two tone ladies’ Date watch, let’s outline the signature design elements that are always there, regardless of the era.
First of all, the as its name implies, the two tone ladies’ Date watch, of course, features a date window on the dial. And similar to most Rolex watches with the date functionality, there’s also the accompanying Cyclops lens on the crystal to magnify the aperture.
Second, the two tone ladies Date watch combines precious yellow gold with rugged stainless steel. This is a familiar style with Rolex, with many of the brand’s dress watches available in this particular look. Rolex two tone watches are constructed predominately in stainless steel, however, the bezel, winding crown, and center bracelet links are crafted in yellow gold.
Additionally, like most Rolex watches, the two tone ladies’ Date watch includes a water resistant Oyster watch case with the screw down winding crown and fluted case back. The case of all ladies’ Date timepieces measures 26mm, a great size for a woman’s wrist.
Furthermore, since it belongs under the Oyster Perpetual umbrella, the two-tone ladies’ Date runs on an automatic mechanical movement. It cannot be stressed enough that a women’s luxury watch powered by a mechanical movement is a big deal. Most other watch brands simply put a quartz movement in their ladies’ timepieces—but that is not the Rolex way!
Finally, and perhaps most obviously but still worth a mention, two tone ladies’ Date watches include the label “DATE” on the dial. That’s the quickest way to differentiate the Date from the Datejust watch.
Variations Within the Two Tone Ladies’ Date Collection
Though Rolex ensures that the two tone ladies’ watch is instantly recognizable thanks to strong design codes, there’s still plenty of variation in the collection. For instance, bezel options include more casual domed or fancier fluted. Plus, let’s not forget after-market diamond-set bezel for even more lavishness.
For bracelets, you can choose between a two-tone Oyster bracelet and a dressier two-tone bracelet. Alternatively, you can also go the custom route with a classic leather strap in any color you want.
Dial selection is plentiful with a range of colors like white, champagne, and black, in addition to textures like linen. Index styles range from simple stick hour markers in gold to traditional Roman numerals. Otherwise, custom diamonds on the dial are always a good idea.
Different Generations of the Two Tone Ladies’ Date Watch
Another big decision to make when picking out the perfect ladies’ Date watch is choosing the era it was manufactured. For example, vintage versions of the of the two tone ladies’ Date watch can include Date ref. 65xx from the 1960s to the mid-1970s or Date ref. 69xx from the mid-1970s to the mid-1980s. These vintage Date models include acrylic crystals protecting the face of the watch. While acrylic is not scratch resistant, it is easy to buff out scratches from acrylic. Also, encased with the case are non-quickset automatic movements, which means the time has to be adjusted accordingly to properly set the date.
A more modern version of the two tone ladies’ Date watch hails from the mid-1980s onwards with the five-digit reference numbers 69xxx. These models include the scratch-resistant sapphire crystal. There’s also the Caliber 2135 automatic movement with the quickset date feature, allowing users to set the date independently from the time.
Regardless of the specific model you choose, the elegant two tone ladies’ Date watch is a great everyday luxury watch for any woman to own. The combination of gold and steel ensures that it’ll match almost anything in one’s wardrobe and the Rolex name guarantees topnotch quality and unparalleled prestige.
