Rolex has a century-long track record of designing and engineering watches in tune with the changing sociological landscapes.
One of the earliest purveyors of wristwatches and the creator of the first proper-waterproof, the first proper-accurate and the first self-winding wristwatch – all created in an effort to prepare the hand-worn timekeeper for its essential role in the 20th and 21st centuries –, even at its earliest stages Rolex exemplified a unique understanding of its sociological surroundings. In other words, Rolex has forever discreetly analysed the lifestyle of its customers-to-be and created features, engineering solutions and designs which, more often than not, ultimately have proven to serve them for a lifetime.
In 1957, Audrey Hepburn was captivating Hollywood, Sylvia Earle obtained her Master of Science, Françoise Sagan was shaking up the literary landscape and fashion designer Adèle Simpson had New York clamouring for her latest creations. No less ladylike than their mothers, they were enjoying new, active lifestyles. Hans Wilsdorf, the founder of Rolex, understood this: the modern woman wants to manage her time to control her destiny. She needed as much precision as men did.
And so, in 1957, Rolex’s classic women’s watch, the Lady-Datejust was born. We don’t feel out of line by saying that it’s been an iconic lady’s watch ever since. Its smaller proportions, although endowed with its trademark elegance, posed a new engineering challenge: that of creating a small-enough mechanical movement that would perform to the same high chronometer standards as its larger counterparts in men’s watches. You see, the smaller the movement the smaller the hairspring, the balance wheel and the mainspring that powers them – and the more petite these components are, the more challenging it is to have them perform reliably to design in various positions and under different temperatures.
Looking back at its 65-year history, the Rolex Lady-Datejust continues to be the quintessential ladies’ watch today, spotted on the wrist of Rolex Testimonees, as well as great many other women champions, virtuosos and leading scientists around the globe.
With the first Lady-Datejust some 65 years ago, Rolex had already succeeded at this undertaking – and ever since then, the Lady-Datejust has been a superbly accurate and robust timekeeper that served generations of highly successful women around the world.
Today’s Rolex Lady-Datejust measures a feminine 28 millimetres in diameter and yet sports a waterproof rating to a depth of 100 metres – that means its iconic Oyster case is remarkably robust and long-lasting –, and combines a highly specified mechanical movement developed and produced entirely by Rolex to its Superlative Chronometer standards. With the instantaneous date display, Perpetual self-winding system, silicon hairspring, Paraflex shock absorbers, and 55 hours of power reserve, the Lady-Datejust is fully equipped to quietly perform its every task with utmost excellence.
Easily configurable to one’s fancy on the Rolex.com website, the Lady-Datejust can be spotted worn by Rolex Testimonees around the world, including marine biologist Sylvia Earle, golf champion Annika Sörenstam, singer Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, prodigious pianist Yuja Wang, as well as great many other champions, virtuosos and leading scientists.
Looking back at a 65-year history, the Rolex Lady-Datejust continues to be the quintessential ladies’ watch today.
More information about the watch and its price can be found at rolex.com.
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Last Updated on March 16, 2024 by Editorial Team
