Rolex DateJust

What do you get when you blend classic elegance, refinement, precision, irreproachable quality, and the magic of Hollywood glamour?

If you ask me, the answer is the Rolex DateJust watch. I admit; Rolex's Oyster Perpetual line, of which DateJust is a part, makes me want to indulge in adjective overdose. I really can't help it if words like "magnificent," "superb," and "absolutely gorgeous" jump to mind. DateJust is that brilliant.

It is, I believe, the jewel in the Rolex crown. Not only is this timepiece very pleasing to the eye and to the touch, it is also a trailblazer of sorts because its technology and design have influenced the appearance of future models.

First introduced in 1945, DateJust was the first watch not only to display the date automatically - and have it verified by an official chronometer certificate -- but to move the numbers to the next day's date at precisely 12:00 AM. It was also the world's first fully waterproof men's watch with automatic winding and central seconds-hand.

Why do I like DateJust wristwatches so much? You can comfortably wear any watch in both men's and ladies' collections with either formal or casual attire. The watches look classy and yet are as robust as the sports models.

But don't just take my word for it. In "In the Line of Fire" Clint Eastwood wears a steel-and-gold DateJust, and in "Frantic" there is a nice close-up of Harrison Ford's stainless steel model with a Jubilee bracelet. If that is not enough of an enticement, check out another stainless steel DateJust model held by both Newman and Tom Cruise in "The Color of Money." Even Bill Murray's character in "Lost in Translation", Bob Harris, sports a two-tone DateJust.

If you like a really elegant, refined watch you can wear anywhere and anytime, you will never get tired of the DateJust. It may not, however, be sturdy enough for extreme sports enthusiasts who would be better off with a watch that is more rugged and rougher aound the edges; the Explorer, for example, or the Submariner.

An interesting tidbit about DateJust is that today's watches, while technologically more advanced, look very much like the models of yore. Some may take this as a sign of the stagnating status quo. I, on the other hand, happen to think that the similarity represents Rolex's unwavering commitment to traditional values that have withstood the capricious winds of change.

Elegance, after all, really is timeless.