Rolex introduced a special green Datejust as part of its Oyster 100 anniversary year.
Dating back to 1926, the Oyster case is Rolex’s name for its water and dust resistant case, an area of watchmaking expertise they pioneered, and still lead in 100 years later in 2026.
You’d think this would mean they’d come out with special new Submariner, Sea-Dweller, or Deepsea, being that those are the most water-resistant (or “waterproof” as Rolex marketing suggests). However, Rolex chose to go with new Oyster Perpetuals, Daytona, Yacht-Master II, and this Datejust 41 as its 100 year anniversary releases.
The amount of people vying for a stainless steel Daytona, with platinum bezel and caseback rings, and special Grand Feu enamel dial, will make that corporate decision, even at a cost that’s more than triple that of a standard stainless steel Daytona, a no-brainer for Rolex, because “demand outstrips supply” with virtually anything Rolex produces with the Daytona moniker.
Even though the Datejust 41 is not a dive watch, Rolex likely created another high seller with this special Oyster Perpetual Green Ombré Dial Datejust 41. The dial features a gradient design with a concentric transition from a lighter, vibrant shade of green in the center, to a near-black hue on the edges. The dial has a sunburst finish and its “green lacquer is applied to the base plate, then, as with all ombré dials, the color gradient is created by spraying black lacquer in concentric motions,” according to Rolex. The result is an aesthetic that will surely be in demand for Rolex collectors and enthusiasts alike.
The Green Ombré Dial Datejust 41 is presented in a 41 mm diameter 904L stainless steel case, with a fluted bezel made of 18K white gold. The Datejust 41 is powered by caliber 3235, which is a 4Hz automatic movement with bi-directional winding, a 70 hour power reserve, and that’s rated to -2/+2 second per day after being cased up. The case is 100 meters water-resistant, and the bracelet features Rolex’s folding Oysterclasp with Easylink 5 mm comfort extension link.
Final Thoughts
As attractive and desirable as the Green Ombré Dial Datejust 41 (Ref. 126334) is, we would still love to see something like this within Rolex’s professional dive watch collection, particularly the Submariner. Although Rolex does not tend to make mid-year releases, perhaps it has something up its sleeve, especially considering the brand’s complete ground up rebuild of its Fifth Avenue headquarters, announced in 2019 , is slated to be done later this year.
Photos by Rolex.
