Selecting the Right Rolex Men’s Date Watch
The smaller sibling to the Datejust, the Rolex Date is a great men’s watch for those who like discreetly sized timepieces. Given that the men’s Date watch has been around since the 1950s, there are unsurprisingly plenty of models to choose from. If you’re in the market for a Rolex men’s Date watch, then read on as we break down the many options available so you can pick the right one.
The Material and Style Choices of the Rolex Men’s Date Watch
Common design traits of all men’s Date watches, regardless of the era, include a 34mm water resistant Oyster case, a date window at 3 o’clock (naturally, as the name says it all), a Cyclops magnification lens on the crystal, and an automatic movement powering the watch.
While Rolex currently only offers the Date 34 watch in full stainless steel or in stainless steel with an 18k white gold bezel, browsing the secondary market for discontinued models offers a much wider choice. In addition to stainless steel, there are also men’s Date watches in two-tone steel and yellow gold, yellow gold shell, and even full yellow gold.
Bezel options include domed, fluted, and engine turned, along with after-market custom diamond-set ones. You can also choose between a sporty Oyster or a dressy Jubilee bracelets, or wear it with a custom leather strap for a classic dapper look.
The Different Generations of the Rolex Men’s Date Watch
As expected, the Rolex has updated the men’s Date watch collection over its six-decade history. So when you’re picking your ideal men’s Date watch, consider the key features of different generations of this Rolex model.
Rolex produced the men’s Date ref. 15xx family from the 1960s until the early 1980s. As with most vintage Rolex watches, these particular models include acrylic crystals on top of their cases and non-quickset movements. Non-quickset Rolex watches means that in order to change the date, the wearer has to continuously turn the center hands around midnight until the right number appears in the window.
practicality for the wearer.
The next generation of the men’s Date watches came with the introduction of the Date ref. 15xxx in 1983. Although these versions of the men’s Date watch still have the acrylic crystal on the window, they include the quickset function thanks to Caliber 3035 powering the timepieces. Therefore, the date can be adjusted independently from the hands, offering more
The following lineup of men’s Date Rolex watches came in 1989 and carried the 152xx reference numbers. In addition to the inclusion of scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, these men’s Date watches are powered by the updated Rolex Caliber 3135 movement with enhanced durability and precision.
Finally, in the mid-2000s, Rolex presented the current ref. 1152xx with a slightly broader case and thicker lugs (but still the same 34mm size) and an enhanced bracelet with polished center links and an updated clasp. As previously mentioned, there are only stainless steel models available from this current men’s Date collection.
Which Rolex Men’s Date Watch will it be?
Pricewise, you can find a men’s Date watch for as low as $2,300 for older models to just under $10,000 for a full yellow gold version with custom diamonds.
While the range of men’s Date Rolex watches is wide, determining what traits are most important to you—whether it’s the material, the movement, the bezel, the budget, or the era—will help you narrow down the choices. Regardless of which one you ultimately decide on, this is one men’s Rolex watch that illustrates that good things can indeed come in small(er) packages.
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