Explore the Oyster Perpetual Datejust and its cultural impact through photos, archival images and documentation of technical achievements (Photo: Rolex)
Swiss watchmaker Rolex has partnered with global design authority Wallpaper* to publish the first authorised history of one of its most celebrated creations, the Oyster Perpetual Datejust. Written by historian and watch expert Nicholas Foulkes, Oyster Perpetual Datejust – A Watch that Made History spans 224 pages, chronicling the remarkable story of Rolex’s inaugural waterproof, self-winding chronometer wristwatch, complete with its now-iconic date window at 3 o’clock.
Launched in 1945, the Datejust was described by Rolex founder Hans Wilsdorf as a timepiece that encapsulated “every discovery made to date”. Its distinctive Cyclops lens, introduced in 1953, further cemented its place as one of the most recognisable watch designs to date. Foulkes, author of some 40 books — many centred on watches and the luxury industry — characterises the collaboration opportunity as an honour. Referring to the ticker as “the ultimate chameleon”, he notes that it has adapted itself effortlessly to every era. “It has remained true to itself throughout, and the 80-year-old original is still recognisable in its 2025 descendant.”
This volume follows Foulkes’s acclaimed 2024 exploration of the Oyster Perpetual Submariner and continues a series dedicated to Rolex’s icons. Richly illustrated with both new photography and archival images, the book not only documents technical achievements but captures the cultural resonance of the Datejust across generations. Alongside stories from Rolex Testimonees, ranging from leading athletes to figures from the arts, it offers a vivid portrait of a chronometer that has shaped modern horology.
Available in English and French, the book can be purchased via WallpaperStore* from Sept 29, as well as official Rolex retailers worldwide and select independent bookstores beginning October.
This article first appeared on Sept 22, 2025 in The Edge Malaysia.
