About the “ first “ innovation

Rolex Datejust was introduced in 1945 when Rolex celebrated its 40 year birthday. It’s a significant invention because it was the very first automatic chronometer certified wristwatch with a date window. Yes, it was Rolex that invented the date function in wristwatches. Whether we’re talking about pocket watches or wristwatches, the industry had for years offered only 3 hands to its clients. One, two, three hands – and nothing more! This was manufacturers’ motto for decades – except chronographs and some rare and complicated calendar watches. But in 1945, Rolex presented the first wristwatch with a date display and a quick date mechanisms that is a great innovation.

About the Oyster case

The Datejust of course was housed in an Oyster case - One of the first innovations of Rolex, which had a tremendous impact on the whole market, was the waterproof case, named Oyster Case(Case was as closed as an oyster). In 1926, the Oyster case became the very first waterproof wristwatch case to be produced serially and it was also the first fully-integrated waterproof case overall. 

About the biggest changes

A Rolex Datejust replica has a high recognition value, like almost all Rolex models. The shape of the case became more masculine within the years, but the rest of the watch (dial layout, hands, cyclops and specs) remained practically unchanged. However the biggest, most dramatic change to the Rolex Datejust came in 1954 with the introduction of the Cyclops lens. Allowing for far easier reading of the date, the Cyclops lens became part of the Rolex signature. Following this development was the creation, in 1957, of a new movement calibre 1065 which was much lighter and slimmer allowing for a flatter back and therefore rendering the old domed back obsolete. In the same year Rolex also released stainless steel versions of the Datejusts, where previously they had only been available in yellow gold.