The Rolex Oyster Perpetual Datejust is Rolex’s classic date watch: launched in 1945 as the first self-winding waterproof chronometer wristwatch to show the date in a window, it is made today in 36mm and 41mm sizes with the Calibre 3235 movement and about 70 hours of power reserve. A steel Datejust 41 lists at about $8,950 in the US, and pre-owned examples often trade near or above that. A Datejust is also excellent collateral: Borro lends up to 65% of a watch’s value, so owners can raise cash fast without selling.
Rolex Datejust Specs at a Glance
| Spec | Current Rolex Datejust 36 / Datejust 41 |
|---|---|
| Sizes | 36mm and 41mm (smaller ladies’ models also made) |
| Movement | Rolex Calibre 3235 automatic, about 70-hour power reserve |
| Accuracy | Superlative Chronometer, −2/+2 seconds per day after casing |
| Water resistance | 100 meters |
| Date | Date at 3 o’clock under the Cyclops magnifying lens |
| Price | Steel Datejust 41 ref. 126300 about $8,950 US list; pre-owned about $10,000 (market estimate) |
Own a Rolex Datejust? Borro lends up to 65% of the value of luxury watches, with loans from $2,500, no credit check and funding in as little as one business day. Get a no-obligation quote or call 720-458-6788.
History of the Rolex Datejust
Rolex introduced the Datejust in 1945, the brand’s 40th anniversary year. It was the first self-winding waterproof chronometer wristwatch to display the date in a window on the dial. The Cyclops lens that magnifies the date followed in the early 1950s and became a Rolex signature. Over the decades the Datejust has been made in steel, Rolesor (steel and gold), and precious metals, with fluted, smooth and gem-set bezels.
Rolex Datejust Features
- Oyster case: a screw-down crown and caseback make it waterproof to 100 meters.
- Perpetual rotor: the self-winding system that gives the Oyster Perpetual its name.
- Calibre 3235: about 70 hours of power reserve and Superlative Chronometer accuracy of −2/+2 seconds per day.
- Choice of bracelets: the five-link Jubilee or three-link Oyster.
How Much Is a Rolex Datejust?
US list price for the steel Datejust 41 ref. 126300 is about $8,950, and Rolesor or gold versions cost considerably more. Market trackers put pre-owned 126300s around $10,000. Value depends on reference, metal, dial, bezel, condition and box and papers. Read how to value your Rolex, or see our dedicated guide to the Rolex Datejust 41.
Can You Get a Loan Against a Rolex Datejust?
Yes. Borro lends up to 65% of a watch’s value, with a minimum loan of $2,500. A Datejust valued at $10,000 could support a loan of up to about $6,500, and precious-metal or gem-set Datejusts can support more.
- No credit check and no personal guarantee. Your watch secures the loan, and Borro does not ask for personal or business financial statements.
- Fast funding. Once your loan is approved, funds can arrive in as little as one business day.
- You keep ownership. Your Rolex is held in fully insured, secure safekeeping for the loan term and returned when you repay.
- Private and discreet. Borro has lent more than $1 billion to clients across the country and holds an A+ BBB rating.
Learn more about Rolex loans with Borro or how a loan against a Rolex watch works.
A Date Window Since 1945, and One More Yours
Every Datejust begins at the same small moment: you lift it from its box, and the bracelet falls open across your palm like a cool, heavy ribbon. Then comes the clasp, the quiet snap, and the wrist feels newly dressed.
It is a watch with a long memory. Launched in 1945, it has spent decades on wrists in boardrooms, at weddings, across airport lounges at dawn. Fluted bezel or smooth, steel or Rolesor, the dial shows you the light in a hundred small ways: a flash of silver as you reach for a glass, a deeper tone under evening lamps. The date sits at three o’clock beneath the Cyclops, magnified, as if the day itself deserved attention.
What you buy, in the end, is continuity. Others have worn this design and loved it, and you step into the same line. It suits a first serious purchase and it suits the tenth. It goes with a navy suit, a linen shirt, a quiet Sunday. People ask what you are wearing mostly because it looks so natural on you.
That ease extends to the practical side as well. Should you ever want liquidity without a sale, Borro lends against Rolex watches, keeps yours in secure, insured custody, and returns it to you when you repay. It remains yours, and the line goes on.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I borrow against my Rolex Datejust?
Yes. Borro lends up to 65% of a watch’s value, with loans from $2,500, no credit check and funding in as little as one business day.
When was the Rolex Datejust introduced?
In 1945, as the first self-winding waterproof chronometer wristwatch to show the date in a window.
How much is a Rolex Datejust 41?
The steel ref. 126300 lists at about $8,950 in the US; pre-owned examples trade around $10,000.
What movement is in the Rolex Datejust?
Current models use the Calibre 3235, with about 70 hours of power reserve.
How do you wind a Rolex Datejust?
Unscrew the crown to its first position and turn it clockwise about 30 to 40 times; after that, normal wear keeps it wound. Screw the crown back down fully to keep it waterproof.
See how much your Rolex could unlock. Borro’s watch loans start at $2,500, with no credit check and no personal guarantee. Apply now or call 720-458-6788 to speak with a valuation expert.
