Rolex Datejust 41, Watch of Wimbledon

Since the partnership between Rolex and Wimbledon began in 1978, tennis has become a key facet of the Rolex universe. The company counts a number of elite players, both past and present, as brand ambassadors, including the iconic, Roger Federer.

 When Federer broke Pete Sampras’ all-time Grand Slam record in 2009 at Wimbledon, it was a Rolex Oyster Perpetual Datejust II on his wrist as he lifted the trophy. As you might imagine, that watch still holds a particularly special place in his heart:

“Every time I put on my Rolex, it reminds me of those great moments. It also reminds me that if you do not work hard, somebody else will, and they eventually will pass you.”

 – Roger Federer.

The partnership with Wimbledon is about more than just sponsorship, it’s driven by a shared passion for respecting traditions whilst simultaneously pursuing innovation.

That’s what makes the Rolex Datejust 41 the perfect unofficial “watch of Wimbledon”.

Like Wimbledon, the Rolex Datejust carries with it a great deal of history and tradition. Introduced in 1945, it was the first self‑winding, wateproof wrist chronometer to indicate a date window in an aperture on the dial with the ability to change the date rapidly at midnight, this was a unique element of high-performance for the time period. This initial Datejust was equipped with a Jubilee bracelet created specially for it as a celebration of 40 years of horological excellence, and also featured the iconic fluted bezel, making it immediately recognisable as a Rolex. Seventy-five years later, this quintessential design remains largely unchanged, at least to the untrained eye. Just as with Wimbledon, the focus at Rolex has always been on incremental yet meaningful improvements.

Rolex describes its Datejust as the modern archetype of the classic watch, and it’s hard to disagree. The design is timeless, the proportions perfectly balanced and the execution superb. Evolving ever so slightly over the years, it continues to remain at the cutting edge of technological developments, whilst still retaining its sense of old-world style and sophistication.

Calibre 3235

It is inside the watch where the majority of the technical advancements can be found. This model is equipped with a new generation movement, calibre 3235, entirely developed and manufactured by Rolex. Not only is it certified as a Swiss chronometer by COSC (Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute), but it is also then tested a second time using methodology and high technology equipment designed by Rolex after being cased to ensure that in everyday use it satisfies Rolex’s exceptional criteria required for precision. This obsessive attention to detail results in a guaranteed precision of +/- 2 seconds per day, earning it the title of Superlative Chronometer.

ROLEX AT WIMBLEDON 2018

Wimbledon 2018, the world’s most prestigious tennis tournament, had just got underway and was blessed by some of the most glorious summer weather Britain has seen in years. Several top ten ranked players had exited in the first round, while a number of young professionals were rising quickly. This year Rolex celebrated 40 years as the Official Timekeeper of The Championships Wimbledon.

ROLEX AT WIMBLEDON 2019

Wimbledon 2019, the Swiss watch brand’s ever important presence at the sporting event was strong and this year their ‘Wimbledon’ offering is even more apt for the prestigious tennis tournament than the last.

ROLEX AT WIMBLEDON 2020

It was with great regret that the Main Board of the All-England Club (AELTC) and the Committee of Management of The Championships decided that The Championships 2020 would be cancelled due to public health concerns linked to the coronavirus epidemic. The 134th Championships was instead to be staged from 28 June to 11 July 2021.

ROLEX AT WIMBLEDON 2021

After a challenging year, Wimbledon came back stronger than ever. Beyond its history as the oldest tennis tournament in the world, the unique atmosphere, and the long-standing traditions, it is a place where legends are written, its ethos resonating synonymously with that of Rolex’s passion to push standards beyond their discipline.

THE ROLEX DATEJUST FEATURING THE SLATE DIAL

The iconic Oyster Perpetual Datejust 41, adorned with the slate dial is available in several of Rolex’s unique material combinations, Oystersteel, white Rolesor, Everose Rolesor and yellow Rolesor. An exciting addition to the current Rolex offering of 2021 saw the introduction of the slate dial to the Datejust 36 range which is also available in Oystersteel and all 3 variations of Rolesor.

Rolex uses Oystersteel for all steel components of the watch cases. Specially developed by the brand, Oystersteel belongs to the 904L steel family, most commonly used in high-technology and in the aerospace and chemical industries where maximum resistance to corrosion is essential. Oystersteel is extremely resistant, offers an exceptional finish once polished and maintains its beauty even in the harshest environments.

The sunray dial technique creates a delicate light reflection on the watch dial and is obtained by using masterful brushing techniques that create ergonomic grooves running from the centre to the outer edge of the dial. This process creates the characteristic subtle glow as light is diffused constantly along each engraved channel. Once this intricate process has been completed, the slate grey colour is applied using Physical Vapour Deposition and a light layer of varnish completes the look, providing a visually striking and long-lasting finish.

Roman numeral hour markers are fashioned from 18ct yellow gold produced in Rolex’s own foundry and feature the legendary green outline, a subtle nod to the model’s Wimbledon heritage.

Adorned with one of the most distinctive Rolex attributes, the Cyclops lens magnifies the watch’s emblematic date display two and a half times for clarity.

The design of the Datejust case has been perfectly engineered to allow light to be reflected from all sides highlighting the watches elegant profile. Choose your preferred bezel whether the traditional fluted bezel appeals to you or alternatively a polished domed option is available.

The Oyster bracelet is a perfect alchemy of form and function, aesthetics and technology, designed to be both robust and comfortable. It is equipped with an Oysterclasp and the Easylink comfort extension link, also exclusive to Rolex. This ingenious system allows the wearer to increase the bracelet length by approximately 5 mm, providing additional comfort in any circumstance.

Aesthetically, the Datejust has spanned eras, while retaining the enduring codes that make it, notably in its traditional versions, one of the most recognized and recognizable of watches.

To enquire about the Rolex Datejust 41 with slate dial, Datejust 36 with slate dial or any of the Rolex collection, please visit our team of Rolex ambassadors in-store. Alternatively, call us on 01603 620638 or email [email protected].

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