Rolex Datejust: Eight Decades of History Captured in a New Official Book

Rolex has once again turned its attention to documenting the legacy of its most important models, and this year the spotlight is on the Oyster Perpetual Datejust. Following last year’s authorised history of the Submariner, the brand has collaborated with publisher Wallpaper* and horological historian Nicholas Foulkes to create a comprehensive volume that charts the history of the Datejust in detail.

Image Credit: Wallpaper*

The hardback book, Oyster Perpetual Datejust – The Watch that Made History, will be released on 29 September 2025. At 224 pages, it presents a thorough exploration of one of Rolex’s most enduring watches, combining new photography with rare archival material to offer an account that is both historical and contemporary.

Why the Datejust Matters

When it was unveiled in 1945, the Datejust represented a major milestone in watchmaking. It was the first chronometer-rated wristwatch to bring together waterproof construction, a self-winding mechanism, and a date display. These technical achievements alone secured its place in horological history, but what makes the Datejust exceptional is how little it has needed to change. The model introduced eighty years ago remains instantly recognisable in its modern form.

Over the decades, the Datejust has taken on a role that goes beyond technical innovation. It became Rolex’s most widely recognised watch, a design that adapted easily to changing styles while retaining its core identity. From its launch in the mid-20th century through to the present day, it has been seen on the wrists of actors, athletes, musicians, and public figures. Its association with personal success and achievement helped establish the Datejust as a cultural marker as much as a timepiece.

Inside the Book

This new volume documents that legacy in depth. The book’s photography captures the watch in its various iterations, showing the subtle refinements that have defined the model across different decades. Archival material sourced directly from Rolex provides rare insight into the Datejust’s development, offering readers a behind-the-scenes view of how the brand has preserved the design while adapting to new standards.

Nicholas Foulkes, who also authored the official Rolex Submariner history, uses his research background to bring context to the story. Rather than focusing solely on specifications, the book explores the Datejust’s position within Rolex’s line-up and how it came to embody the qualities most closely associated with the brand. In that sense, the Datejust is not just a watch within the Rolex catalogue but the model that best reflects the company’s philosophy.

Rolex’s Expanding Library

The decision to focus on the Datejust immediately after the Submariner highlights Rolex’s strategy of documenting its cornerstone models through officially sanctioned histories. The Submariner book established the tone of the series, combining design analysis with cultural impact, and the Datejust volume continues that direction. While Rolex has produced books in the past, this new series represents a deliberate attempt to create a complete library of definitive references, one model at a time.

For collectors, this approach has particular value. Officially authorised histories provide reliable information and imagery that are rarely available elsewhere. They also create lasting reference points for future generations of enthusiasts, ensuring that the details of Rolex’s most significant models are preserved in a structured format.

Cultural Significance

The Datejust’s inclusion in this series underscores its role as the most universal Rolex model. Unlike the Submariner, which is strongly associated with diving, or the Daytona, which is tied to motorsport, the Datejust was conceived as a watch for all occasions. Its adaptability is one of the reasons it has endured for eight decades without losing relevance.

The book explores how the Datejust moved seamlessly through different eras, from post-war formality to modern business wear, always retaining its essential design. This ability to adapt while remaining consistent explains why the Datejust has been associated with such a wide variety of wearers. It has been a watch of choice for those at the top of their fields, but it has also remained accessible enough to become the first Rolex many collectors acquire.

Availability and Collectability

Oyster Perpetual Datejust - The Watch that Made History will be released exclusively through WallpaperSTORE* at a retail price of £100, approximately $136. Pre-orders are open until its official release date, with shipping beginning from 29 September 2025.

Although the price places it well below the cost of an actual Rolex, the book is designed with collectors in mind. It functions both as an authoritative reference and as a design object in its own right. For those who already own a Datejust, it offers context and detail that enhance appreciation of the watch. For those who do not, it provides an accessible way to engage with the model’s history and significance.

As Rolex continues to expand its library of official histories, this latest release confirms the brand’s commitment to documenting its past in a format that matches the quality of its watches. The Datejust’s story, told in full across these pages, reflects not only the evolution of a single model but also the broader development of Rolex as the most recognisable watchmaker in the world.