The Rolex Datejust 41 is the larger, modern size of the watch that defined the Rolex dress-sports style, and it is one of the easiest Rolex models to buy well pre-owned. This guide explains the Datejust 41 references, what the 126334, 126333 and 126331 actually differ by, fluted against smooth bezels, Oyster against Jubilee bracelets, which dials to look at, indicative prices and what to check before you buy.
What the Datejust 41 is, in one paragraph
The Datejust was introduced in 1945 as the first self-winding chronometer wristwatch to show the date in a window on the dial, and it has been in the Rolex catalogue ever since. For most of its life it was a 36mm watch. Rolex launched the Datejust 41 in 2016, replacing the earlier 41mm Datejust II, and the steel versions followed in 2017. Every current Datejust 41 runs calibre 3235, with a power reserve of around 70 hours, and is water resistant to 100 metres. It has the same Oyster case and Cyclops date lens as the 36mm watch, in a size that suits most modern wrists.
The Datejust 41 references explained
The reference number tells you the metal and the bezel. These are the ones you will meet most often.
126334: steel with a white gold fluted bezel
The 126334 is the Datejust 41 most people picture: an Oystersteel case and bracelet with a fluted bezel in 18ct white gold. From a distance it reads as an all-steel watch; up close, the fluting catches light in a way a plain steel bezel does not. It is also the reference with the widest choice of dials. Current examples in our collection include a 126334 with a white dial, the 126334 with the mint green dial and a 126334 "Wimbledon".
126333: yellow Rolesor
Rolesor is Rolex's name for steel combined with 18ct gold. On the 126333 the bezel, crown and centre bracelet links are yellow gold, and the rest is steel. It is the most traditional two-tone Rolex, and it pairs particularly well with champagne and slate dials. See the 126333 "Wimbledon" in our collection.
126331: Everose Rolesor
The 126331 uses the same recipe with Everose, Rolex's own rose gold alloy. It looks warmer and less formal than yellow gold, and suits chocolate and slate dials. The 126331 in our collection is a 2024 example, unworn, with its box and papers.
126300: smooth steel bezel
The 126300 has a smooth, domed steel bezel instead of the fluted white gold one. It is the quietest Datejust 41 and the one to choose if you want the watch to sit in the background. The two-tone equivalents with smooth bezels are the 126303 in yellow Rolesor and the 126301 in Everose Rolesor. If one of these is the reference you want, our watch sourcing team can find it.
Fluted or smooth bezel?
This is mostly taste, but there is a practical point. The fluted bezel is 18ct gold on every Datejust 41 that has one, so it is softer than steel and shows wear on its ridges over time. A smooth steel bezel scratches too, but it is easier to refinish at a service. Fluted looks dressier and more obviously Rolex; smooth looks more modern and more understated. If you are undecided, try both on: the fluted bezel makes the watch look slightly larger on the wrist.
Oyster or Jubilee bracelet?
Every current Datejust 41 is offered on either bracelet, and the choice changes the watch more than most buyers expect.
- Jubilee is the five-piece link bracelet designed for the Datejust in 1945. It is more flexible, sits closer to the wrist and gives the watch a dressier, more classic look. Depending on the reference and year, it has either a concealed clasp, which makes the bracelet look continuous, or a visible folding clasp.
- Oyster is the three-piece link bracelet familiar from the Submariner and GMT-Master II. It is flatter and sportier, and many owners find it easier to wear every day.
Most current versions also have a small extension link built into the clasp, which gives a few millimetres of extra length on a warm day. When you buy pre-owned, check that all the removed bracelet links come with the watch. How many links a Datejust 41 needs depends entirely on your wrist, and a missing link is expensive to replace and limits who can wear the watch.
Which dial?
The dial is where two otherwise identical Datejust 41s become different watches. The ones to know:
- Slate "Wimbledon": a grey dial with green Roman numerals, named for Rolex's long association with the tennis championships. It is available on the 126334, 126333 and 126331.
- Mint green: a pale green sunray dial, offered on the 126334.
- Blue and white: the everyday choices, easy to wear with anything.
- Champagne and chocolate: the natural partners for yellow and Everose Rolesor respectively.
Dial choice affects price, and some combinations are much easier to find than others. If you have a dial in mind that is not listed, tell us and we will check which references carry it.
Datejust 41 or Datejust 36?
The Datejust 36 is the original size and the one most vintage Datejusts share. On a smaller wrist, or under a shirt cuff, it can look more elegant than the 41. The Datejust 41 suits larger wrists and anyone used to wearing a modern sports watch. The five millimetres matter more than they seem, because the bracelet widens with the case. If you are between sizes, compare the two on the wrist: our Datejust 36 126233 is a useful reference point against any of the 41mm watches above.
How much is a Rolex Datejust 41?
Pre-owned Datejust 41 prices depend mainly on the metal, then the dial and the age of the watch. As an indicative guide from our own listings in September 2026:
- 126334 (steel, white gold bezel): broadly £10,000 to £13,000.
- 126333 (yellow Rolesor): broadly £10,000 to £14,500.
- 126331 (Everose Rolesor): broadly £13,000 to £16,500.
These are ranges, not quotes. Each listing in the Rolex collection carries its exact price, and that is the figure to rely on.
A word on value, because it is one of the most searched questions about this watch. The Datejust 41 has been in steady demand since it was launched, and that is an observation about the market, not a forecast. Buy a Datejust because it is the watch you want to wear.
What to check before you buy a Datejust 41
- Warranty card and serial. The card's serial should match the case, and the dealer and date should make sense for the reference and dial.
- Bezel. Look along the fluting for flattened or rounded ridges, which point to wear or heavy polishing.
- Bracelet stretch. Hold the watch by the case and see how far the bracelet sags. Jubilee bracelets show stretch sooner than Oyster bracelets because they have more links.
- Date change. The date should click over cleanly at midnight and sit centred under the Cyclops lens.
- Links and set. Confirm the box, papers and all removed links are included.
Every watch we sell is authenticated and inspected before it is listed. The Oakbury Assurance explains exactly what that covers.
Where to buy a Rolex Datejust 41 in the UK
The Datejust 41 is worth seeing in person, because bezel and bracelet combinations look different on the wrist from how they look on screen. Oakbury's showrooms in Lichfield, London, Brighton and Liverpool are by appointment, so you can compare a fluted and smooth bezel, or a Jubilee and Oyster bracelet, side by side.
Browse the current Rolex Datejust 41 stock in our collection. If the reference or dial you want is not listed, our watch sourcing service will find it, and if you have a watch to put towards it, start with sell or part-exchange.
Deciding between a Datejust and its precious-metal sibling? Our Rolex Day-Date buying guide covers the other side of that choice, and the Rolex Submariner buying guide covers the sports alternative.