There are Datejust updates, and then there are the ones that stop you mid-scroll. Watches and Wonders 2026 marks 100 years since Rolex patented the Oyster case—the world's first waterproof wristwatch case—and the brand is using the occasion to revisit some of its most enduring reference points. The Datejust 41 ref. 126334 is one of the centennial's defining pieces: a configuration that feels genuinely new while leaning into everything the model does best. A fluted white gold bezel, a robust Oystersteel case, and a dial that earns sustained attention.
Things to Know About the Watch
The 41 mm case is rendered in white Rolesor—Rolex's term for the pairing of Oystersteel and 18K white gold— with the fluted bezel in the latter material. The dial is where the story lives. Green lacquer is applied to the entire base plate first, then black lacquer is sprayed outward in concentric motions to produce the ombré gradient, deepening from a vivid green at the center to near-black at the rim.
This marks the first time an ombré Datejust dial has been produced entirely via lacquering since the technique returned to the catalog in 2019, making it both a centennial-year piece and a meaningful first in the model's own history. White gold hour markers with Chromalight luminescence read clearly against the gradient's depth, and the date window at 3 o'clock benefits from the contrast with the darkened edge. The watch ships on an Oyster bracelet with polished center links and satin-finished outer links.
The Movement
Calibre 3235 powers the ref. 126334. The in-house automatic runs at 28,800 vph with a 70-hour power reserve. The patented Chronergy escapement —paramagnetic nickel-phosphorus pallet fork and escape wheel— delivers high energy efficiency with strong resistance to magnetism. The blue Parachrom hairspring adds further resilience to temperature variation and shocks, the latter also absorbed by Paraflex shock absorbers. Precision after casing is certified to ±2 seconds per day. For 2026, the Superlative Chronometer certification gains three new testing criteria: resistance to magnetism, reliability, and sustainability.
On the Wrist & Price
At 100 years old, Rolex is doing what it does best: taking a proven formula and finding exactly the right new expression for it. The green lacquer ombré is a first for the steel Datejust, and it arrives at standard retail pricing with no premium for the added production complexity. At the end of the day, green is the color of the “green watch giant.”
Sticker Price USD 11,650. More info on Rolex here.
