History: The Rolex brand was founded by Hans Wilsdorf, in 1905. The visionary man was only 24 when he founded the company, in London. The name originated from Wilsdorf’s quest for a word that was short, easy to say and remember worldwide and looked good on watch movements and dials. Since the begining, the watch was synonim to chronometric precision. In 2009, the brand launched the Datejust II, built upon the heritage of the Datejust but in an contemporary case and with the emblematic date window and the Cyclops lens. The model comes in two types of bracelets, the Jubilee or the Oyster.
Specifications: My Datejust II has a 41mm 904L stainless steel superalloy case with a polished smooth bezel and a silver dial with index hour markers. The stainless steel, highly resistant Oyster bracelet has an Oysterclasp and Easylink extension link. The crystal is made out of sapphire. The piece is water resistant to 100 meters and the date window and the Cyclops lens, a cyclops crystal magnifying the date at 3 o’clock, are two distinctive markers. The inside contains a caliber 3135 movement and a COSC-certified chronometer automatic movement with 50 hours of power reserve and 31 jewels. The balance contains a proprietary Parachrom hairspring that is amagnetic and shock resistant. The watch is manufactured entirely in-house.
Review: The model is one of the most understated members of the Rolex legacy given the fact that it showcases an impecable history in a versatyle, inovative approach and has simple, clean cut lines. I have a 41 mm Datejust II watch that I wear often and with pleasure given the fact that its design is day to day suitable. The Oyster bracelet gives a sporty edge to the 41 mm model which looks more powerful and manly than the classic 36mm version. From my standpoint, the only major bump on the road for this model are the polished links on the bracelet. These highly polished center links with brushed links on either size reflect a lot of light and collect scratches like it’s going out of style. Don’t get me wrong, the 904L steel is as resistant as you’re going to find but all polished surfaces show dirt and marks.
Authenticaton: Authentic Rolex watches never have a manufacturer engraving of a logo, design or Rolex name on the outside of the caseback. Genuine models are usually free of engravings on the caseback, therefore they are smooth. Since 2007, the company stopped using the hologram so new watches are not being shipped with it. The date magnification is 2.5 times the normal size and it should take up the entire glass bubble. The lettering on the dial should be precise. High-magnification should reveal clean edges. A great test of the materials is to check the water surface tension. The weight of an authentic piece is relatively heavy because of the materials used. The serial and case reference numbers on an authentic piece are engraved with great detail and are smooth. If you are not sure you are looking at an original, you can check its authenticity and receive an authenticity certificate at any official retailer. Each country of the world has at least one official retailer. In smaller, developing countries, it’s usually located in the capital city.
Prices: The list price for a new 41mm Rolex Oyster Perpetual Datejust II is an impressive $7150 which falls into the less than $10.000 luxury watches category. You can find one here. A pre-owned model varries from $4000 to $7000, depending on its condition, its exact configuration and its accessories: original box, papers etc. You can find on here. Retailers: You can find all authorised Rolex retailers located in your area right here.
Brand:Â Some of the most famous brand ambassadors are Andy Roddick, Justine Henin, Roger Federer, Placido Domingo, Sir Jackie Stewart, Pierce Brosnan etc. The brand is the official timekeeper for the Wimbledon and the Australian Open.
Keep it simple,
Diana