Datejust 36

The Rolex Datejust 36 reference 126231 pairs a 36 mm Oyster case in a two-tone combination of Oystersteel and Everose gold with the brand's in-house Calibre 3235, representing the current generation of Rolex's longest-running watch line. Introduced in 2018, it succeeds the reference 116231 and brings meaningful advances in movement technology and case finishing to a silhouette that has defined the dress watch category for decades. A wide palette of dials — ranging from the warm sundust and rich chocolate to the distinctive palm motif — allows the reference to address a broad range of collecting tastes.

The Datejust line traces its origins to 1945, when Rolex introduced the first self-winding wristwatch to display the date in a magnified window on the dial, a feature that became known as the Cyclops lens. The two-tone Oystersteel and gold configuration has been a recurring theme throughout the Datejust's history, appealing to collectors who seek a middle ground between a full steel sports watch and an all-precious-metal dress piece. The 126231 arrived as part of a broader generational update in 2018, replacing the 116231 series and standardising the Calibre 3235 across the 36 mm Datejust family. That movement upgrade brought a Chronergy escapement, improved power reserve, and enhanced resistance to magnetic fields — substantive engineering changes beneath a classically familiar exterior.