Rolex Datejust 41mm 'Wimbledon' Jubilee Bracelet

When the first Rolex Datejust was introduced in 1945 – the year of Rolex's 40th anniversary – it made history as the first automatic waterproof certified chronometer with a date on the dial. The "Cyclops" was added in 1955 to magnify the date display by two and a half times, thus making the reading more legible and clear, and this feature became one of Rolex's most recognizable hallmarks ever. In 2009, Rolex introduced the Rolex Datejust II. This line of watches offered the features of the original and iconic Datejust in a simpler and more modern design and included new innovations. One of the most significant differences between the Rolex Datejust and the Datejust II is, of course, the size – the new one is 41 mm, significantly larger and following the trend towards larger watch cases. In 2017, the brand also introduced the latest version of the model under reference 126300. One of the biggest changes is the movement – the new caliber 3235, which features an increased power reserve of 70 hours, a seriously improved automatic winding system where the rotor is now on a ball bearing, and its efficiency has been increased by 15%. As for lubrication, the reversing wheels – one of the problematic areas in terms of friction – are Teflon-coated. The new 3235 has 14 patents and more than 90% new components, and it is also twice as accurate as an official COSC chronometer. It is not for nothing that the Datejust is the brand's most popular and recognizable model after the iconic Rolex Submariner – and the Datejust 41 allows this popularity to be presented in a contemporary interpretation, especially since this particular watch comes with a Jubilee bracelet – something that was not possible in the previous version of the model. This particular example is in the great and relatively hard-to-find combination – a grey-silver dial with green Roman numerals for the hours. It is these numerals that are the reason this model has found its place among the "special" Rolex models, which, thanks to their peculiarities, receive nicknames – this particular one is called “Wimbledon” because of the green color of the numerals, reminiscent of the courts of The Championships, Wimbledon. As with the other models with nicknames, this one is also very difficult to find – practically impossible to order from authorized dealers and highly sought after by fans of the brand. Indeed, the detail on this watch (as with all modern Rolexes we have had the opportunity to examine) is impressive. Starting with the incredible dial – in this case, the so-called “Rhodium dial”, which changes its color from dark grey to silver at different angles, as well as the Chromalight luminescent coating (present on the 9 o'clock marker and the hands). Moving on to the sapphire with the "Cyclops", which uses the brand's highest-grade sapphire, allowing for a lower profile of the watch compared to its predecessors. Of course, the case and bezel deserve separate attention – a combination of high-grade 904L brushed steel with faceted polished edges and details. As is known, Rolex pays special attention to the materials used and has its own foundries for the production of its alloys. The bezel is the so-called "smooth" type, which gives an extremely elegant look and a strong presence on the wrist. In this case, it is a Jubilee bracelet, which at this size has a solid clasp, crafted from a single piece of steel (and not from bent sheet metal, as is the case with many other brands). The only thing it lacks (perhaps only in our opinion) is the Submariner's GlideLock system, but here the EasyLink is present, which allows for micro-adjustment with an additional 5–20 mm. Truly, the combination of this dial with this bracelet makes the watch extremely impressive.