These days, when it comes to Rolex, the conversation is almost always fixated on Rolex’s Professional models like the Submariner, Daytona, and GMT-Master II. That is fine, I get it. They are very good watches that all have rich heritage. That said, despite those 1:1 Rolex replica watches being very good, I think there is one that trumps them as the best modern Rolex you can buy. I’m talking about the Rolex Datejust. Don’t rage-respond to my hypothesis just yet: let me explain why first.
Rolex Datejust: a brief backstory
The Datejust was first introduced in 1945 as the reference 4467, 11 years before Rolex introduced the Day-Date in 1956. The original 36mm size would remain the core, and the largest Datejust you could buy until 2009 when Rolex introduced a 41mm variant. Unlike the Cellini, which would prove so hit or miss it was eventually discontinued, the high quality fake Rolex Datejust watches has remained a staple of the Rolex catalogue since its introduction 80 years ago. It has become such a familiar face and is largely associated with a sense of success, achievement, and milestone – a symbol that you made it.
Obviously, I am partial to the Datejust, considering I own a Datejust 36 ref. 126234, which is a watch near and dear to me for its association with my grandfather. It was his go-to watch throughout my childhood, and the AAA copy Rolex watches that sparked my interest in the world of horology. Then again, the ubiquity of the model and the many grandsons who can say the Datejust was their grandfather’s watch… Well, the “grandpa watch” element may work against the Datejust in the modern era. I’ll circle back to this later.
Rolex Datejust 36 ref. 126234 spec check
This stainless steel top replica Rolex Datejust 36 watches, with a bright blue dial, white gold fluted bezel, and Jubilee bracelet, is practically a time capsule. Its 36mm diameter is identical to the original Datejust that debuted in 1945, and measures 11.6mm or so thick and 43.5mm lug-to-lug. The entirety of the 100-metre water-resistant case is executed in a polished finish, with mixed finishes introduced by the bracelet, which, by the way, has Rolex’s Easylink extension system that allows you to change its length by half-link on the fly. Inside is the calibre 3235, an in-house, 70-hour movement you would also find in a Submariner Date, regulated to the Superlative Chronometer standard of +/- 2 seconds per day.
Why is the Datejust the best Rolex you can buy today?
I really do believe that statement, you know, and I put my money where my mouth is. First off, the best Rolex Datejust super clone watches offers spectacular aesthetic variety. Personally, I think the 36 is the best size. In the same way that a Cartier Tank is meant to be small and an IWC Big Pilot is meant to be, well, big, this classy Datejust looks its best in its (original) mid-size. However, anyone who disagrees with me is not beholden to the 36, because you also have 28mm, 31mm, and 41mm options.
Material-wise, you may be surprised to hear that the Swiss Rolex Datejust replica watches, historically speaking, is not super common in precious metal. For that, you’d usually have to jump up to a Day-Date. In the current catalogue, however, all sizes are available in Oystersteel, white Rolesor (steel case and bracelet, white gold fluted bezel), and Everose or yellow Rolesor (steel case, gold crown and bezel, steel/gold bracelet) where the only difference is in the tone of gold. If you need more bling, you can also opt for diamond-set bezels across all sizes and material configurations. Wow!
Dial-wise, there are a ton to explore as well. There are fan-favourites like my bright blue, black, champagne, and white with brighter tones of pink, purple, and mint green also available. Each size and material configuration has a different number of dial options: the white Rolesor 36, for example, has 12 different options. Further fuelling debate, the China cloning Rolex Datejust watches can be chosen with both Oyster and Jubilee bracelets. Both are fantastic, but I personally preach that domed bezel models look best on an Oyster bracelet, and fluted or diamond-set bezel models look best on a Jubilee. It is worth noting that jumping from an Oyster to a Jubilee adds around US$100 to the final price tag.
More importantly than the price, such variety is what ultimately affords the Datejust something that Rolex’s Professional models do not: a sense of being tailor-made for you. Whereas your (steel) Submariner is basically only available in black and looks just like everyone else’s, a Datejust can feel much more you.
To be fair, versatility really is the core of my argument here, as the second point I want to make hones in something I like to call “robust elegance”. The Rolex Datejust copies cheap UK watches, at least in 36mm and 41mm, utilise the very same 3235 movement found in a Rolex Submariner, and still retains 100 metres of water-resistance despite the refined aesthetic. So on that front, you have all the characteristics of a proper daily sports watch. Aesthetically, however, the Datejust is at a minimum something rather smart casual, dressed up even more with a fluted bezel, Jubilee bracelet config.
Nobody is actually going to grab their pitchforks in a riotous rage upon seeing someone wear a Submariner with a suit (editor’s note: speak for yourself), but whereas a Submariner feels forced with such wardrobe, a Datejust is a true beach and boardroom watch. It goes with any outfit and can handle pretty much anything a Submariner can from a stress standpoint – unless you are actually planning on taking a Rolex down to 300 metres. I’ve worn mine while vacationing, swimming in the ocean during the day, and still wearing it in the evenings at a white tablecloth steakhouse. In my opinion, it’s the GADA daddy.
Finally, we have to address the hype horology economy. The scarcity of perfect Rolex replica watches at retail has long plagued discourse, but while everyone has been fixated on the steel sports, the Datejust has taken a back seat. That is what makes the retail experience so much better, because you can actually have one! I picked up my Datejust in September 2021, around six months after I placed my order and deposit. Though that’s still a considerable wait, it was exactly what I was quoted. A breath of fresh, transparent air compared to the enigmatic dance with something like a GMT Pepsi or the yellow dial Oyster Perpetual 36 that was discontinued years after I registered my interest (and never heard back).
The Swiss movements reproduction Rolex Datejust watches isn’t a hype Rolex, and it does not have a huge secondary market premium, if at all. It holds enough value for you to get your money back should you ever wish to, and since it doesn’t have such a crazy premium, there is less allure for thieves to swipe it compared to a Daytona that will sell for three times retail.
Closing thoughts
Let’s run it back. Yes, some will see the best-selling replica Rolex Datejust watches as basic and straightforward. But if we disregard the hype that has become such an integral part of being a watch fan for many, it’s really not so bland at all when you consider it’s one of the most configurable Rolexes in the current catalogue. There is plenty of colour and material to explore, with degrees of dressiness dictated by the bezel and bracelet combo you choose. It has the advantage of seamlessly being worn in any situation without feeling out of place – and despite its inherent classiness, it’s just about as robust as its Professional collection stablemates. The Datejust may not be the UK Rolex fake watches for sale that has people holding their breath for at Watches and Wonders, but it is a timeless classic that will never go out of style.
