Introduced in 1945 to commemorate Rolex’s 40th anniversary, the Datejust remains one of the brand’s most enduring and iconic collections. It made horological history as the world’s first self-winding wristwatch to feature an automatically changing date at midnight a feature now considered standard, but revolutionary at the time.

In 1957, Rolex introduced the first women’s version, the Lady-Datejust, capturing the elegance of the original Datejust in a refined 28mm case, perfectly suited to slender, feminine wrists while maintaining all the technical excellence of its larger counterpart.

Among the most notable references in the Lady-Datejust line is the 6917, produced from the late 1960s through the 1980s. This version features a slightly smaller 26mm Oyster case and is powered by Rolex’s automatic in-house Caliber 2035.

Beginning in the 1970s, Rolex began experimenting with hardstone dials, primarily for the Datejust and Day-Date collections, a tradition that continues to this day. Among the most sought-after of these natural materials is lapis lazuli, prized for its intense, vibrant blue hue and naturally occurring variations that make each dial one of a kind.