Rolex Datejust vs Rolex Day-Date: Which Is The Best Watch To Buy?

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Industry titans Rolex have long-since been a hot topic of discussion for horological fans globally.

Is the Rolex Submariner really the blueprint for the modern dive watch, or is it Blancpain’s Fifty Fathoms? Was it really Paul Newman that bolstered the sales of the Rolex Daytona, or was it the genius Zenith El Primero calibre that got the collection up to speed?

LEARN MORE: Zenith El Primero Movement: The Epic Horological Story

Well, let’s break away from the others and focus on something a little more internal. What if we were to pit two of their most revered collections in a close-knit duel? That’s precisely what we are covering as we organise a highly anticipated battle..

It’s the Rolex Datejust vs Rolex Day-Date!

Defined as two of the best dress watches from the brand, The Rolex Datejust and Day-Date form integral parts of Hans Wilsdorf’s illustrious portfolio. Created in 1945 and 1956 respectively, the 11 year difference holds no weight when it comes to the innovation these watches have endured.

Where the Rolex Day-Date has had a touch of luxury with its President bracelet (flexed by many like 47th US Commander-In-Chief Donald Trump), The Rolex Datejust has risen as the more casual, yet still elegant piece to be flaunted in the boardroom, mid-afternoon weekend siesta, or just to the folks at that Christmas recital.

With world firsts and materials abound, let’s get into the details as we compare the Rolex Datejust vs Day-Date, and throw them into the lion's den.

Only one can come out on top.

Historical Significance Of The Rolex Day-Date vs Rolex Datejust

Both watches made waves upon their initial inception, but for a few different reasons.

Introduced in 1945, The Rolex Datejust became a hit sensation and was the first of its kind to feature an automatically changing date function. This sensational breakthrough completely changed the conception of date complications, and how they can be used on timepieces.

Dual calendar functionality of Day-Date - Ref. 228235

As for the Rolex Day-Date, this earned an ultra luxurious status due to its “President” association. Launched in 1956 when the Hungarian revolution began and Elvis Presley recorded “Heartbreak Hotel” the brand was swooning enthusiasts with their precious metal cases.

This included 18K yellow gold, white gold, and platinum for that extra-special glow.

Under a dual calendar function, displaying the day and date, this showed the complex edge although it appeared to be a classic piece of ultra-luxurious horology. Throughout its lifetime, The Rolex Datejust has remained a steadfast line of innovation.

One of the best examples of its growth is through the addition of a Cyclops lens in the 1950s. This magnifying glass allowed optimal viewing into the date aperture, requiring just a swift flick of the wrist to spot the complication.

The Rolex Day-Date has had deep, underlying associations with any ounce of social status or reputation. Perhaps we can go no higher than the leaders of the free-world, the Presidents of the United States of America.

Worn by Donald Trump to Lyndon B. Johnson, the watches introduced the very special President bracelet.

DISCOVER MORE: Question Time: How Do I Undo Or Replace My Rolex Strap?

This three-link strap opposes the classic Oyster variation, as it features polished and curved links, contrasting with the broad, rectangular links of the Oyster.

Comparing Rolex Datejust vs Rolex Day-Date Timelines

One of the best ways to judge the performance of both watches is to take an in-depth look at how they performed over time. Innovations, key milestones…the works.

And we’ve covered it all in these easy to read tables below

Rolex Datejust Timeline

Rolex Datejust	Events
1945	Debuted in 1945, celebrating the 40th anniversary of the brand. Instantly became the first line to house an automatically changing date. Boasted the high-powered Calibre 710 that was complex enough to feature a date window.
1948	Addition of a Jubilee bracelet. Fitted with a 5-link design, this pricey bracelet elevated the dressiness of the line.
1953	Datejust introduced to a fresh 36mm case diameter, suitable for men and women. Cyclops eye introduced in the form of a plexiglass material on the dial.
1960s	Rolesor initiated. The watches kept the luxury of precious metal cases, but made them more affordable with the complimentary steel.
1970	Addition of a sapphire Cyclops eye, updating previous plexiglass on the dials.
1977	Quickset function is fitted to the Datejust, allowing users to alter the date without having to move the hour hand around the dial.
1985	904L steel is seen for the first time.
1992	Size increases to 41mm case diameter.
2000	Calibre 3135 is introduced. Self-winding, it’s capable of offering chronometer precision for these types of watches, it can easily combat shock via the Parachron hairspring technology
2005	Datejust II is released to the world. Incorporating a 41mm case diameter, the Rolex Datejust II offered a bigger appeal to those interested in a new Calibre 3136 with better precision. Cyclops eye given a double side anti-reflective coating on the dial.
2016	Rolex Datejust 41mm took over the short-lived Datejust II. Given slightly thinner dimensions, the bezel and dial were redesigned to be sleeker and more timeless. Calibre 3235 introduced, boasting Superlative Chronometer certification and a strong 70 hour power reserve.
2021	Rolex Datejust 36 evolves with a set of new, modern dial aesthetics, including coral, blue and green, with bracelets like the Jubilee.

Rolex Day-Date Timeline

Rolex Day-Date	Events
1956	Rolex Day-Date is born! Representing the first wristwatch to flaunt the date and day of the week, this was a huge innovation. Powered by the Calibre 1055, it was secured inside an Oyster case to repel water. Available only in precious metal cases, it is an ultra luxurious line. They became associated with legendary icons like President Lyndon B. Johnson and Richard Nixon.
1965	The President bracelet starts with its legendary three link aesthetic. Made out of precious metals, it evokes elegance and style, and has become a direct link with the model.
1977	Quickset feature allowed the wearer to automatically change functions. .
1988	Updated to the powerful Calibre 3155. Offering better accuracy and reliability, the calibre retained day and date features.
2000	Calibre 3156 upgraded from the 3155 movement, producing a smooth self-winding mechanism and stronger power reserve.
2015	Refreshed with platinum dials to suit the similar material case.
2017	Upgraded to 40mm diameter New Calibre 3255 movement. Offering a 70 hour power reserve, the watches offer chronometric accuracy.
2022	New 36mm and 40mm sizes with stunning dials in blue, green and diamond infused.

Defining The Modern Rolex Day-Date and Rolex Datejust

We’ve run through the history of the Rolex Datejust and the Day-Date.

But now, let’s take a minute (or two) to take a look at what the modern collections look like, what you can expect, and what you should bear in mind when you are looking to buy a Rolex from either lineup.

Datejust reference 126234

Let’s bring up the horological lens for a second and take a deep dive into these beautiful watches!

Rolex Datejust

Diameter	The Rolex Datejust is one of the line's most versatile options, and therefore they offer a number of dimensions for you to buy 28mm - Slimmer in dimensions, this is typically a woman's size, but could be worn for the slender gent. 36mm - Classic dimension and ideal size for many of the Datejust. 41mm - Larger variation of the watch. This is definitely a statement piece, yet could still work well with a suit.
Material Options	It offers a number of reliable materials; Oystersteel - This is Rolex’s very special play on steel. Classified as the highest grade, 904L, this is made in-house and produces a beautiful lustre. Rolesor - A combination of steel and any form of gold. This allows the precious metals to be more affordable while adding durability. Gold (Yellow/White/Everose) - Some watches are available in solid gold, ranging from the timeless yellow variant, to the more understated white, and the brand's very own creation, Everose. Platinum - Perhaps the most desirable of all the materials to buy, this is extremely luxurious and rarely used in horology.
Movement	Defined by its strong Calibre 3235 or 3135 movement, depending on the case size you opt for. Both offer Superlative Chronometer certification, producing around a daily accuracy of -2/+2 seconds Fitted with a date window at 3 o’clock, it comes complete with a Cyclops eye that improves its legibility. In terms of power reserve, the 3235 offers 70 hours, and the 3135 has a 48 hour reserve.
Dial Styles	Choose from a number of dial styles, including solid colours like black, white silver, blue and champagne. However, if you prefer something more exotic, we recommend you choose mother-of-pearl, or a sunburst finish option. Remember, you can even opt for watches with diamond hour markers for added luxury.
Bracelet Types	In some instances, you can buy a leather strap, but the general consensus is the classic 3-link Oyster bracelet for durability, or flex some style points with the 5-link Jubilee bracelet.

Rolex Day-Date

Diameter	Offering fewer options than its Datejust brethren, it keeps things tight with a 36mm and 40mm case diameter.
Material Options	Buying options include solid gold, platinum or Rolesor.
Movement	Similar to the Datejust, it keeps things powerful with their movements. Utilising the 3255, this offers a 70 hour power reserve and Superlative Chronometer certification. With this line, you have the added functionality of a joint day and date windows at 12 and 3 o’clock.
Dial Styles	Compared with Datejust, this offers more styles and themes for you to choose from. Take your pick from diamond hour markers to superfluous dials crafted from meteorite and encrusted diamonds. There is also the option to throwback to Watches and Wonders 2023 and that brilliant Puzzle Dial that was quickly snapped up by John Mayer and Tom Brady. Why not go old school with some Roman numeral hour markers, but be assured that all are coated with Chromalight for maximum legibility.
Bracelet Types	Sure, you can choose the Oyster strap, but why not take things up a notch with the legendary President bracelet? Composed of three semi-circular links, it is available to buy only in precious metals like platinum.

Are The Rolex Datejust And The Rolex Day-Date Investment Worthy?

We completely understand that when you buy a watch like a Datejust or Day-Date, you will be hoping for it to be at least a little bit of an investment. Luckily for you, Rolex forms one of only a handful of brands that have the potential to hold their value and surpass it on the secondary market.

Day-Date Ref. 128236

Forming the outsider from the Holy Trinity of Vacheron Constantin, Patek Philippe and Audemars Piguet, these are some of the top luxury Swiss watch brands that have a high enough level of demand, to surpass their supply stats.

The reasons are:

Craftsmanship
Lineage - Be it innovations or record breakers,
Celebrity influence, such as John Mayer to LeBron James adorning Rolexes.

This means that more people are interested in buying the watches, compared with the amount of timepieces they are producing. Naturally, a waiting list forms for each brand.

LEARN MORE: Rolex Waitlist: Everything You Need To Know

We don’t know about you, but the prospect of waiting for 6 months for a Rolex Datejust or 36 months for a Rolex Day-Date, fills us with horological dread.

The secondary market therefore bridges the gap between buyers looking to skip the waiting list. However, you can be expected to pay a premium for the pleasure of jumping the line.

Below are a few watches from each collection, and the prices you can expect to be paying at retail, compared with the secondary market.

Retail Value / Reference and Material	Secondary Price As Of December 2024 (Upwards of)
DATEJUST
Reference 126234 - Steel and White Gold - £7,950	£8,400
Reference 126303 - Steel and Yellow Gold - £12,400	£9,300
Reference 126331 - Steel and Everose Gold - £12,900	£9,500
Reference 278343RBR - Steel, yellow gold and diamonds - £14,400	£18,900
Reference 126334 - Steel and White Gold - £11,000	£12,10
DAY-DATE
Reference 228235 - Everose - £37,800	£44,880
Reference 128349RBR - White Gold - £50,700	£47,130
Reference 128236 - Platinum - £50,600	£51,800
Reference 228398TBR - Yellow Gold and Diamonds - £78,100	£70,200
Reference 128235 - Everose - £43,350	£76,000

What Makes Each Collection A Solid Investment?

The Rolex Day-Date is a significant part of Rolex's dress watch portfolio. Historically, it’s famed for its associations with Presidents and celebrities, plus it is only available in precious metals like gold and platinum.

President Lyndon B. Johnson - Source - Rolex Magazine

While the line is typically more expensive than its partner, you are treated to only precious metals, added complications with the day display and a number of tantalising dial options.

In turn, due to the added complication, the movements within are designed to a high standard to accommodate the added functionality. Superlative Chronometer certified? You betcha!

DISCOVER: 11 Different Types Of Watches You Need To Know About

While the Rolex Datejust may not have that added complication, the line still offers a phenomenal level of brand prestige. Defined for its sensational plethora of materials, high quality Superlative Chronometer movement and timeless, everyday luxury appeal, the Rolex Datejust remains very much in high demand.

Offering 41mm and 36mm case dimensions, they offer modern and classic sizes, appealing to a wider range of potential buyers.

With the option to upgrade with a Jubilee bracelet for an added taste of luxury, the line’s two-tone materials allows buyers interested in more entry-level Rolexes a chance to purchase a cheaper, steel watch.

LEARN MORE: Here's Our Best Men's Watches Under £5,000 For The Ultimate Flexer

Influence Of The Secondary Marketplace

Looking at the pre-owned market, it’s integral we take into account various global events that may have impacted the industry when you buy a Rolex Datejust or Day-Date and which is the best to purchase.

Following COVID-19, post-pandemic secondary prices saw a huge surge. For example, the Watchcharts index notes that following the end of 2021 to around April 2022, the index price of the Rolex Day-Date collection reached a peak average of $53,000 USD.

Moving forward to current times, this currently resides at around $41,000 USD at the time of writing. However, this is not indicative of a huge drop in value. In fact, for 2019 the average index for the Rolex Day-Date was around $28,000 USD.

So, while the index price has quietly dropped from around $45,000 at the start of 2023 to around $41,000 at the end of 2024, it’s still a significant climb from a few years ago. Now may be the time to buy your model since the value is a little lower and the market (for now) has cooled off.

For the Rolex Datejust, this similarly follows the influence of COVID-19. Using the same calculator from Watchcharts, 2021 to 2022 saw a huge rise in the index value of the collection. From the start of 2021, we see an average of $8,670, and the numbers promptly shot upwards to $10,696 in April 2022.

As of 2023 to 2024, the numbers appear to be gradually declining, going from $9,711 at the start of 2023, to around $9,266 by the end of 2024.

For individual watches like the white gold Rolex Datejust Ref. 126234, the prices on the secondary market have appreciated by around 15 to 20%, from £6,500 in 2020 to around £8,000 in 2024.

Equally, the two tone watch, reference 126334 in white gold and steel, rose from £8,000 in 2020 to around £10,000 in 2024, indicating an over 10% increase.

LEARN MORE: Our Pick Of The Best Rolex Daytona References For The Hungry Horophile

Prices have appreciated over time, but with a slight drop in the current marketplace with an adjustment going on, it may be worth investing low to try and get those big highs over time!

Below is the performance of some key watches from each collection from the start of 2024, through to the end.

Secondary Price - January 2024	Secondary Price - December 2024
DATEJUST
Ref. 126334 - £10,150	£9,849
Ref. 126300 - £7,500	£7,300
Ref. 126333 - £11,300	£11,000
Ref. 126300 - £7,540	£7,295
Ref. 126200 - £6,890	£6,500
DAY-DATE
Ref. 228235 - £37,540	£36,140
Ref. 228238 - £33,344	£32,400
Ref. 228239 - £33,000	£29,662
Ref. 218238 - £28,937	£27,630
Ref. 228206 - £55,100	£45,950

2024 has been a slight drop for the Datejust and Day-Date. Although they may be a little low-down on their value at the moment, this could offer a top investment opportunity for watch fans.

Should I Buy The Rolex Datejust Or The Rolex Day-Date?

In truth, it depends on your personal taste.

Not forgetting the circumstances you will wear the watch, and the sort of materials that get your wrist pumping. In terms of prestige and desirability, both have different draws that individually attract different types of buyers.

The Day-Date line is made up of precious metals, including Everose gold and platinum, both of which are very investment worthy.

For that ultra-rare platinum number, reference. 228206, it’s been estimated that a secondary market price growth of around 50-60% since 2020 to December 2024 has occurred, tying in to the demand of this line.

This is similarly the case for the yellow gold and Everose gold models that rose by around 40 to 50% from 2020 to December 2024. Defined as the epitome of Rolexes dress watches and kept solely to precious metals, this iconic line is worth a gander if you are fashion-orientated.

For the Rolex Datejust, its value has not appreciated as drastically as the Day-Date over the same period. One argument is that due to the heritage and the material choice of the line, it is much more exclusive and harder to buy.

Datejust Ref. 126200

This is no horological stain on the Rolex Datejust. Far from it.

This line equally sees appreciation of around 10-20%, but nothing as overwhelming as the Day-Date. The steel Ref. 126200 was originally valued between £5,000 to £5,500 on the 2020 secondary market, but that has risen to around £6,000 to £7,500 at the time of writing.

It’s estimated that the Day-Date is generally around 3 to 5 times more expensive than the Datejust. The pricing is due to the level of complexity and exclusivity of the models. For the Day-Date, this is a solely precious metal design, while the Datejust can come in steel, naturally dropping the overall value of the watches.

For precious metal case variants of the Day-Date, this saw a more significant rise of around £12,000 in 2020 for the Ref. 126238, to a pricier £18,000 to £22,000 at the beginning of 2025.

The Datejust is the more affordable Rolex to purchase. Given a versatile style aesthetic due to the two-tone options, the line is still timeless and attractive. However, if luxury is your true calling, you simply must choose the Day-Date for that complex dial and precious metal case options.

Conclusion

So we have covered in great deal the clash of the Rolex Datejust vs Rolex Day-Date. So what kind of buyer are you?

Either way, you’ll be glad to know all about the capabilities that each line can deliver, including useful date functions, Superlative Chronometer certified movements, and a whole host of materials that go from ultra-stylish, to timeless luxury.

The Day-Date is your best bet if you:

Want enduring luxury high-fashion,
Looking for accessibility with the choice of many precious metal cases such as platinum,
Enjoy the dual date functionality, including the day and date in prominent apertures,
Respect the power of their Superlative Chronometer certification.

If the Day-Date seems a little too gaudy and expensive, you cannot fail with the Datejust lineup:

Options of precious metal or steel cases to suit every discerning budget,
Range of dial styles including classic sunray-finishes or avant-garde palm motifs,
Superlative Chronometer movement,
Timeless case sizes for modern or vintage-inspired wearers.

Either way, be it the Rolex Day-Date or Rolex Datejust, you are buying into one of the biggest Swiss brands of all time, with assurances along the timekeeping route of absolute quality, craftsmanship, technical ability, prestige and style-points.

If you’ve chosen your collection, do you know where you should go to buy a Rolex fast?

Chrono Hunter, we need you!

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(Source unless otherwise stated - Rolex)

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