Datejust · Generations
Eighty years of the everywatch — how the Datejust evolved across eras, sizes, and movements.
Because the Datejust spans so many configurations, it is best understood as eras and a size story.
| Generation | Years | References | Key changes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vintage | 1945–1977 | 4467, 1601, 1603 | Acrylic crystal; the classic fluted 36 mm archetype |
| First sapphire | 1977–2000s | 16000, 16014, 16234 | Sapphire crystal, quickset date, calibre 3035/3135 |
| Calibre 3135 modern | 2000s–2018 | 116200, 116234 | Solid-link bracelets, refined 36 mm |
| Datejust II / 41 | 2009–present | 116300, 126300, 126334 | 41 mm sizes; Datejust II then the cleaner Datejust 41 |
| Current 3235 | 2018–present | 126200, 126234, 126334 | Calibre 3235, 70-hour reserve; Wimbledon dial |
The Datejust was 36 mm for decades. The chunky Datejust II (41 mm, 2009) answered demand for a bigger watch, and the cleaner Datejust 41 (2016) refined it. Both 36 and 41 mm continue today, sharing dials, bezels, and the calibre 3235.
The big mechanical milestones are the move to sapphire crystals and quickset dates (late 1970s), the long-serving calibre 3135, and the current 3235 with a 70-hour reserve. Matching the movement and crystal to the reference helps date and authenticate a Datejust.
Generations FAQ
Broadly: vintage acrylic-crystal (1601), first sapphire (16014/16234), calibre-3135 moderns (116234), the 41 mm Datejust II/41, and the current calibre-3235 line (126234/126334).
The 41 mm Datejust II arrived in 2009, followed by the cleaner Datejust 41 in 2016. The classic 36 mm continues alongside them.
The current 36 and 41 mm Datejusts use the calibre 3235, introduced from 2018, with a 70-hour power reserve.