Peering through the Cyclops Lens: The Storied 80-Year History of Rolex’s Oyster Perpetual Datejust

Esteemed London-based writer, Nicholas Foulkes, renowned as an authority on watches, is set to release the second in a fascinating series of books. This volume, a collaboration between Rolex and global design authority Wallpaper*, uncovers the history of the watchmaker’s most iconic creation: the Oyster Perpetual Datejust. Slated for release on September 29, the book, ‘Oyster Perpetual Datejust – A Watch that Made History’, will be available in both English and French editions.

Launch in 1945, the Datejust was lauded as a revolution in watchmaking. It was Rolex’s first waterproof, self-winding chronometer wristwatch, featuring a distinctive date window at 3 o’clock. In the words of Rolex founder Hans Wilsdorf, the watch encapsulated ’every discovery made to date’. Three more successful years led to the incorporation of the Cyclops lens in 1953, yielding an instantly recognizable, globally celebrated design.

The fast-paced release of the series, roughly a year apart, is an exciting prospect for fans and followers alike. The book is now available for pre-order and will soon be made available for purchase exclusively at WallpaperSTORE*, in both English and French. From October, it will hit the shelves of Official Rolex Retailers across the globe, along with a selection of independent bookshops and retailers. The history and legacy of the Datejust are about to be told in a way that has never been seen before.