So I won a raffle

Specs 
Diameter: 36mm 
Lug to lug: 43mm 
Thickness: 11.6mm 
Lug width: 20mm 
Movement: Rolex caliber 3235, 70hrs power reserve, automatic, 28,800vph, +/-2s per day

TLDR

I can’t afford this, but I won a raffle and now I have a Datejust. Sum this up in 3 words: flash, bling, ice. While it was absolutely perfect for my formal outfits, it doesn’t quite fit my everyday casual style. But it’s a freaking awesome watch and it’s opened the door for me to some watches I thought I’d never get to experience.

Getting lucky in Kentucky

Well technically I wasn’t in Kentucky yet, but rather on a plane somewhere over Kansas on my way to a wedding down in Louisville. The setting isn’t what matters. What matters is that I was a big dumdum (airport drunk) and entered a raffle on the internet for a modern Rolex Datejust. $97 per ticket, 97 tickets, a $9700 prize, a 99% chance of wasting $97. And yet, somewhere over the rainbow at 29,000 feet, I clicked my heels together, sliding them over the Delta economy carpet, and my dreams came true.

“Congratulations userG, you just won a beautiful Rolex Datejust!” At first I thought the wine was playing tricks on me. The fantastic flight attendants were in a great mood and kept serving me free drinks despite the fact that I told them I hadn’t paid for anything. But then again, I didn’t pay for the Datejust either and, according to the words on my screen, it was mine.

Foray into modern Rolex

Watches at this value have always seemed off limits to me. While I have ventured nervously into vintage, “affordable” Rolex before with the Oyster Precision 6694 and the Air King 14000 (article on its way), I didn’t think I would own a modern piece at this point in my life. I’m no millionaire (yet) and even splurging on a BB58 for my first article felt insane. But with this stroke of undeserved good luck I now find myself with a watch worth more than my 2013 Corolla. Not for long, however. I don’t feel like I deserve this watch and I plan to slowly buy/sell/trade my way down the price ladder to something, at least in the distorted world of watch values, more reasonable. But there will be time for that later. Let’s first appreciate the Rolex Datejust 126234!

A classic

Anyone who has spent a week delving into the world of luxury watches will be familiar with the Datejust. This iconic line has graced the wrists of countless notable figures over the years and, sidestepping the Cellini (sorry guy), it’s the dressiest piece in Rolex’s catalog. Lucky for me, I just so happened to be on that plane on my way to two weddings and the Datejust was the perfect companion. Oh ya, along with my girlfriend; she’s pretty swell too.

With an 18-karat, white gold, fluted bezel, solid link Jubilee bracelet, and radial sunburst blue dial, the 126234 assaults the eyes with icy-hot incandescent light. This watch is flashy! I’m not a flashy guy, but on the rare occasion that I’m required to dress up, I don’t mind playing the part.

The shoe fits

Like Cinderella at her ball, I fit perfectly into my metaphorical shoe at the wedding reception/s. While my girlfriend’s sister’s shirt and tie didn’t fit too well (I didn’t feel like bringing my own shirt across the country; sue me), the 126234 has what are my ideal watch dimensions and proportions. 36mm is the proper size for a Datejust, far superior to its colossal 41mm brother. I know those are fighting words and I’m sorry to those who I’ve offended, but I’ll take my last stand on that hill. But regardless of tradition or style of watch, I find that 36mm is generally the sweet spot for my 6.5in wrist.

The modest 43mm lug to lug paired with the 20mm bracelet and thin, elongated lugs gives the watch perfect proportions. I was never a fan of the maxi-cases on the previous generation of Rolexes and they felt particularly clumsy on what should be an elegant piece like the Datejust. I can maybe (barely) understand wanting your Explorer II to look like a manhole cover, but I just don’t see the appeal of taking a timeless, elegant classic and fattening up all the limbs. It’s flashy enough with those narrow polished lugs as is.

Speaking of flashy, how about that bezel? That’s not steel, so I’m told, but white gold. Soft, bright, 18 karat white gold. Sure, most modern Rolexes have white gold indices, but placing that material on the outside of the crystal and shaping it into the infamous fluted pattern really pushes this watch over the edge of what I’m comfortable wearing in public. Due to the multiple configurations that Rolex offers, there is a debate online over what the best Datejust is. While I absolutely see the appeal of the non-fluted bezel and Jubilee version, and despite the fact that my fashion is usually several decibels quieter, I think that if you’re going to get a Datejust you should get the Datejustiest of them all. That requires a fluted bezel.

Her Majesty’s Steel Jubilee

In order to check all the boxes, the Datejustiest Datejust needs not only a fluted bezel, but also a flashy patterned bracelet to match. Again, this is all just my opinion and nobody in the world aside from watch aficionados (losers) cares, but I have always found the polished center link Oyster bracelet to be an eyesore. That big flat polished plane may look nice when brand new, but it’s a scratch magnet and ends up looking dirty and worn with moderate wear. The Jubilee, on the other hand, with its three rounded interlocking center links, avoids this problem and provides a similar pattern to the bezel that brings the piece together. The smaller links also allow for extra comfort as they articulate around the wrist. Unlike the vintage, hollow center link models that stretch significantly with time, the modern Jubilee (solid center links) looks refined and light, but feels well built and sturdy and it inspires confidence that it will last the ages with you.

I actually prefer the look of the previous model’s hidden clasp. The “dainty” look of the Jubilee lends itself to the infinity bracelet. It almost looks more like a “real” bracelet or piece of jewelry, which I think works on such a sparkly watch. But while that model put form over function, the latest edition is certainly more practical, allowing space for the 5mm Easylink Comfort Extension. I was able to get the perfect fit where the watch could fit snugly above my wrist knuckle on the tighter setting and hang sumptuously, almost flirtatiously, below the knuckle after adjustment. While larger sport models look awkward when fit loosely, I think the small, luxurious Datejust looks classy worn so casually. It says “ya I’m a Datejust…so what?” Or something arrogant like that.

Ice ice baby

While this piece worked great with my suit and tuxedo in the formal setting of the wedding hall, the Datejust is just a little too flashy for my everyday, fairly informal life. I work from my garage in my Crocs and while many of my friends are getting married these days, I don’t have enough occasions to wear this watch. Because of the way it catches attention by blinding everyone on the street with a circle of fluted light shards, I actually feel quite uncomfortable wearing this out in public. Not only do I feel immodest, I feel like I have a 36mm target on my wrist.

This being said, I do think that a braver and more stylish person could rock this as a daily driver. I traded my friend E for the weekend once and he looked awesome sporting what I see as a dress watch in shorts, slides, and a t-shirt. Though I did use it as my swimming watch, I was extra careful not to scratch it getting in and out of the pool and was a bit paranoid about rocks in the ocean. It just really isn’t a sports watch, in my view; it’s a sporty-formal watch, and while I think that could be ideal for many people, I’d prefer to have a more versatile watch for my daily.

Worth it?

Well, considering I paid $97 for it (ok and the extra $30 for wifi to monitor the raffle), yes this is obviously absolutely worth it for me. But would I pay the aftermarket $10,000 for a little watch that tells the time and date? I wouldn’t, but as I said before, I’m no millionaire. After handling this watch, I’ve been able to handle a couple more in the price range as I trade my way down market, and the 126234 really does feel like a $10,000 watch. I can’t say that for all of these watches (see upcoming articles).

If you have $10k lying around taking up space in your back pocket and you have a job or lifestyle that requires you to dress more formally, I think this is an absolutely fantastic option. It’s a timeless design, it’s stunningly beautiful, and the sturdy, modern Jubilee bracelet allows you to take this in the shower, pool, or sink without much worry. If I could afford to, I’d definitely keep this as my sporty-formal watch. I could wear it to weddings without worrying about sweating on a strap or damaging a fragile movement while dancing my ass off. This thing is reliable and built to last. But since I can only afford one $10k watch (wow can’t believe I just wrote that) and I have a sick addiction of burning through watches to review, I will have to let this one go. But while we’re up here in this ridiculous price range, let’s see what else is happening around these parts…

See you next time with the Rolex Submariner 124060. Cheers!

-G