Rolex Novice With a Few Datejust Questions

[Satoree]

Hello everyone. I have been researching Rolex as I am interested in purchasing my very first watch. After much deliberation, I now know I am looking for a Datejust I. I have a couple questions I'm sure some of you would be able to answer, please excuse any mistakes in my vocabulary as I know very little about watches. Thank you.

1. Has the Datejust I gone through many cosmetic design changes over the last 20 years? If so, what years did the design change and is there a website that could show me these differences?

2. I've been looking at many Datejust I watches and one of my favorite modern designs are definitely those showing minutes around the perimeter of the dial rather than the "traintracks". Can anyone tell me what this is called? How many variations are there available for the Datejust I? How can I see all of them?

Here is a picture

3. What is the word used to refer to dials such as these with ROLEX scrolled over the background?



Thanks again!

[Tools]

There's about a hundred different dials or more.. You can see them at www.oysterworld.de

the Datejust is still as recognizable today as it was back in 1945 when it was introduced..

the dial you are referring to (2nd pic) is the Black Roman Jubilee dial.

Black - dial color
Roman - indice style
Jubilee - background pattern

[Annan]

Suggest you visit the official Rolex website. http://www.rolex.com/watches/baselworld-2014.html Not sure they show all the DJ variations but will certainly show you a number of them. IMO the best thing that has happened to the DJ is the upgrade made to the Jubilee bracelet about 2005 or so (really not sure). The links are now solid rather than rolled and the clasp was changed to a "hidden" style. Check out the website.

[77T]

For item 2. The dial is called silver and/or rhodium Arabic. Although you mentioned the "minutes" the pic you showed has the hours enumerated. There is a concentric dial with large Arabic minutes for the Oyster Perpetual.

[crowncollection]

no changes since 2005 on the 36mm, lots of new dial choices though

[rmfnla]

This is cool:

http://www.hodinkee.com/blog/rolex-datejust-review

Thanks, BJHofkin

[Satoree]

Originally Posted by 77T

For item 2. The dial is called silver and/or rhodium Arabic. Although you mentioned the "minutes" the pic you showed has the hours enumerated. There is a concentric dial with large Arabic minutes for the Oyster Perpetual.

I was referring to the minutes beyond the hours in the first picture. I can see how what I was saying could be confusing though!

Thanks everyone for your input, these have been great resources for me.

[77T]

Yea I did misunderstand.
Go to the resource Larry shared earlier. Those are the current ones.

[swiss_watch]

I have the same exact watch in your first picture, but I don't know the name of the dial unfortunately.

[Magnum75]

Originally Posted by swiss_watch

I have the same exact watch in your first picture, but I don't know the name of the dial unfortunately.

Silver Decorated dial with blue Arabic numerals.

[shirtguy]

I have that dial on my wg dj on starp just check out my avatar

its called silver concentric Arabic dial

[7S26]

Originally Posted by 77T

For item 2. The dial is called silver and/or rhodium Arabic. Although you mentioned the "minutes" the pic you showed has the hours enumerated. There is a concentric dial with large Arabic minutes for the Oyster Perpetual.

Hello 77T, about the dial. Satorree's pic Is a combination of Hours and minutes enumerated. Sometimes the "stick" dials come with small roman numbers.

[zapokee]

This shows the history of Datejust designs. Just wish I had the real things rather than pics only...