A Rolex may be the most instantly recognizable watch in the world, and it’s for good reason: the brand is, in many ways, the industry’s standard-bearer. In 1910, five years after its founding, Rolex produced the first watch to receive the Swiss Certificate for Chronometric Precision, and the brand has been synonymous with exacting watchmaking ever since. While it may not be the oldest watchmaker, Rolex set the template for watches as we know them today, introducing the first waterproof timepiece in 1926, inventing self-winding technology in 1931 and date displays in 1945. For almost as long as the company has existed, Rolex has been synonymous with sporting and adventure. A Rolex watch was there for the first summit of Mount Everest as well as the first dive into Mariana Trench, the deepest known point on Earth. But, of course, Rolexes are beloved for more than their utility; everyone from Winston Churchill to Steve McQueen to Roger Federer has sported them. Paul Newman, another devoted Rolex fan, wore his Daytona so often that the style — with its graphic black-and-white dial – is known among collectors as a Newman Daytona. That holy grail piece (only 2,000-3,000 models were produced with that particular design) is one of the most coveted watches in the world. But any Rolex, from the classic Datejust to the rugged Submariner, is an investment for the ages.

Rolex

Important Watches

Dial: mother-of-pearl, diamond-set indexes

Dial: mother-of-pearl, diamond-set indexes Caliber: cal. 2235 automatic, 31 jewels Case: 18k yellow gold and diamond set, screw down case back Case number: A’657’344 Closure: 18k yellow gold and diamond-set Rolex Pearlmaster bracelet with folding clasp Size: 29 mm diameter, bracelet circumference approximately 165 mm Signed: case, dial, and movement Box: yes Papers: yes Accessories: Rolex presentation box with key outer packaging, Warranty (undated), polishing cloth, leather card holder, booklets, bezel protector, hangtags, and a signed letter from Johanna Bennett

View 1 of Lot 137: Reference 80308 Datejust Pearlmaster | A yellow gold and diamond-set automatic wristwatch with date, bracelet, and mother-of-pearl dial, From the Collection of Tony Bennett, Circa 1999

reference 80308 datejust pearlmaster | a yellow gold and diamond-set automatic wristwatch with date, bracelet, and mother-of-pearl dial, from the collection of tony bennett, circa 1999

Includes <a href="https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/luxury/watches/watch/rolex?waysToBuy=buyNow" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Rolex</a> box.

Rolex Datejust Turn-O-Graph (Reference 116261). A 36mm rose gold stainless steel automatic wristwatch with date. 2003-2004

Rolex President Datejust (Reference 279138). A 28mm yellow gold diamond-set automatic wristwatch with date.

Includes <a href="https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/luxury/watches/watch/rolex?waysToBuy=buyNow" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Rolex</a> box, card, hang tag, and seal hang tag.

Rolex Datejust 'Wimbledon' (Reference 126301). A 41mm rose gold stainless steel automatic wristwatch date. 2020

Rolex Datejust (Reference 279163). A 28mm yellow gold stainless steel diamond set automatic wristwatch with date. 2017-2023

Includes <a href="https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/luxury/watches/watch/rolex?waysToBuy=buyNow" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Rolex</a> box and card.

Rolex Datejust (Reference 278344RBR). A 31mm white gold stainless steel diamond set automatic wristwatch with date. 2021

Rolex President Datejust (Reference 179159). A 26mm white gold diamond set automatic wristwatch with date and day. 2013

Rolex Datejust (Reference 126201). A 36mm rose gold stainless steel automatic wristwatch with date. 2021

Rolex President Datejust (Reference 279135). A 28mm rose gold diamond set automatic wristwatch with date.

Includes <a href="https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/luxury/watches/watch/rolex?waysToBuy=buyNow" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Rolex</a> box, card, and hang tag.

Rolex Datejust (Reference 116185). A 36mm rose gold diamond set automatic wristwatch with date. 2014

Rolex Datejust Turn-O-Graph (Reference 116263). A 36mm yellow gold stainless steel automatic wristwatch with date. 2005-2006

Rolex Datejust (Reference 178344). A 31mm white gold stainless steel diamond-set automatic wristwatch with date. 2015

Rolex Pearlmaster Datejust Meteorite Dial (Reference 81339). A 34mm white gold diamond-set automatic wristwatch with date. 2007-2008

Rolex Datejust (Reference 116189). A 36mm white gold diamond set automatic wristwatch with date. 2005-2006

Rolex Datejust (Reference 126201). A 36mm rose gold stainless steel diamond-set automatic wristwatch with date. 2019

The <a href="https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/luxury/watches/watch/rolex" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Rolex</a> <a href="https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/luxury/watches/watch/rolex/datejust" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Datejust</a> II ref 116333 was among the first models in the Datejust collection to be fitted with a 41mm case.&nbsp;The present watch features an Oystersteel and 18k yellow gold bracelet, champagne dial with diamond hour markers. The watch is powered by the self-winding caliber 3136.

Rolex Datejust II (Reference 116333). A yellow gold, stainless steel and diamond set automatic wristwatch. circa 2016

Rolex Datejust (Reference 179383). A 26mm yellow gold stainless steel diamond-set automatic wristwatch with date.

Rolex President Datejust (Reference 116188). A 36mm yellow gold diamond set automatic wristwatch with date. 2008-2009

Rolex Pearlmaster Datejust (Reference 86348SAJOR). A 39mm yellow gold diamond sapphire-set automatic wristwatch with date. 2016

Rolex Datejust (Reference 126231). A 36mm rose gold stainless steel diamond-set automatic wristwatch with date. 2019

Includes <a href="https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/luxury/watches/watch/rolex?waysToBuy=buyNow" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Rolex</a> card and presentation non-Rolex box.

Rolex Datejust (Reference 178383). A 31mm yellow gold stainless stainless steel diamond-set automatic wristwatch with date. 2015

Rolex Datejust Meteorite Dial (Reference 178344). A 31mm white gold stainless steel diamond-set automatic wristwatch with date. 2013

Rolex President Datejust (Reference 179138). A 26mm yellow gold diamond & ruby-set automatic automatic wristwatch with date. 2007-2008

Rolex Datejust (Reference 279383RBR). A 28mm yellow gold stainless steel diamond-set automatic wristwatch with date. 2017

Datejust (Reference 178383). A 31mm yellow gold stainless steel diamond-set automatic wristwatch with date. 2013

The present 1603, a classic reference for vintage <a href="https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/luxury/watches/watch/rolex" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Rolex</a>, is fitted with the fan-favourite Buckley dial, denoting stark and large printed Roman numerals in a contrasting colour to the base dial, in this case a clean white, offering not only great legibility but a highly distinct aesthetic.

Datejust 'Buckley' (Reference 1603). A 36mm stainless steel automatic wristwatch with date. 1972

Includes <a href="https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/luxury/watches/watch/rolex" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Rolex</a> box.

Datejust Oynx Dial (Reference 116243). A 36mm yellow gold stainless steel diamond-set automatic wristwatch with date.

Datejust (Reference 178344). A 31mm white gold stainless steel diamond-set automatic wristwatch with date. 2009-2010

As a release in 1945&nbsp;to commemorate <a href="https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/luxury/watches/watch/rolex" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Rolex</a>’s 40th anniversary, the <a href="https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/luxury/watches/watch/rolex/datejust" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Datejust</a> surpassed its predecessors by being the first automatic wristwatch with an automatically changing date window at midnight. The Oyster case introduced in 1926 offered a resolution to an unaddressed need: resistance to water. With such groundbreaking features, the Datejust quickly became one of the world’s most popular luxury timepieces. Includes Rolex box and card.

Datejust (Reference 116135). A 36mm rose gold diamond-set automatic wristwatch with date.

Datejust (Reference 179313). A 26mm yellow gold stainless steel diamond-set automatic wristwatch with date. 2005-2006

Includes <a href="https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/luxury/watches/watch/rolex?waysToBuy=buyNow" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Rolex</a> card, hang tag, and presentation non-Rolex box.

Datejust (Reference 126301). A 41mm rose gold stainless steel automatic wristwatch with date. 2023

Datejust (Reference 178271). A 31mm rose gold stainless steel diamond-set automatic wristwatch with date. 2008

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