Rolex Datejust II

No, this is not a blog about Panerai! I will never hide the fact that Panerai are my favourite brand and that most of my favourite timepieces are made by Panerai. But I also maintain that Panerai are probably excellent in 75% of situations… not 100%. There are certain times where you may not want the bold, in-your-face attitude (and size) of a Panerai. And while the best Panerai use leather straps, you will want a stainless steel bracelet on many occasions.

So this blog presents what I feel to be the perfect all-purpose mens’ timepiece — the Rolex Datejust II with a smooth bezel and stick dial. You could choose the silver, black or blue dial — it doesn’t matter. These are really the best timepieces I can think of for any situation.

I recently travelled to California for a wedding. I knew I would be wearing a tuxedo (I was the best man), shorts, jeans and dress shirts, all on the same trip. I would be swimming, karting, playing laser tag and other bachelor party activities. While somewhat nervous about travelling with a top piece, I chose the Rolex because it would be my best piece for a tuxedo. And I thought that the steel bracelet would allow great comfort and versatility. As well, the Datejust II has some good shock absorption features in its movement, which gave me confidence in using it during some activities. Well, you must have already guessed that the Rolex aced its test with flying colors. One moment, I am wearing the Rolex to race karts around an indoor circuit and then next, I am wearing it with a tuxedo and giving a speech. There was not a single moment where the Rolex did not feel absolutely ideal for the occasion.

Guys love to debate this topic — which timepiece would you wear if you could only have one piece in your collection? For me, it has to be the Datejust II. Sure, I get more excited about Luminor 1950 models and such. But the Datejust II can do it all. It is a modest yet contemporary 41mm in size and is quite thin. But when I see photos of myself wearing it, it definitely wears large enough. The steel bracelet is the most comfortable strap/bracelet I have ever worn. Being steel means it matches anything — any colour and any style. The style is understated with just a touch of sportiness — it just oozes elegance. The DJ2 looks superb with a tuxedo, with a business suit, or with jeans and a t-shirt.

Rolex Datejust II

Now, for sure, there are examples of much more sophisticated high horology. But I feel that the in-house movement of the Rolex DJ2 is high end enough that it can hold its head high in any company… without drawing too much attention to itself. The sheer quality of this timepiece is something to behold. It gives its owner a quiet confidence when wearing it — confidence that you are wearing a world-class timepiece without needing to flash and scream to the world that you have one. The sensational quality of the Rolex steel and bracelet, along with the gorgeous slim case, give you tremendous satisfaction when wearing a DJ2.

As for the movement, what more do you really want for an every-day piece? It has seconds, minutes, hours and date and is powered by a reliable and robust movement from Rolex. It is gorgeous and simple and extremely well made. I think the DJ2 is really an entry to the real world of luxury timepieces. After all, it is Rolex’s entry-level model. It won’t necessarily be the most complex piece at the cocktail party, but it can still command some respect. You could arrive at any function with a DJ2 and not feel outclassed, even if other guys come wearing more expensive watches.

The famous stainless steel Oyster bracelet of the Datejust II.

And if you’re looking for one piece to wear all the time AND keep for many years, look no further. Rolex quality is second to none and their servicing has its own high end reputation. I recently read that Rolex now recommend service every 10 years and not every 5 years. When you send in a Rolex for a service, it comes back like new. I certainly plan to have my Rolex serviced every 5-10 years as I plan to keep it for a long time. So you see, a Rolex DJ2 is a versatile, all-purpose piece that can be maintained for a lifetime.

So there you have it. TimeCaptain’s choice for the very best, all-purpose-and-sufficiently-high-end timepiece is the Rolex Datejust II. Simple. Gorgeous. Elegant. Timeless. Robust. Versatile. Exceptionally well made. Now, the only question is, which version is for you? Have fun shopping. As always, the fun is in the search.

Yours truly,

TimeCaptain