The ascent of Mt. Everest by Tenzing Norgay and Sir Edmund Hillary in 1953 is etched into Rolex folklore. British watch company Smiths was the official supplier of 15 watches to the British expedition involved in the 1953 ascent. It is highly likely that the Smiths watches, not Rolex Oyster Perpetuals, were worn at the […]

Visit Looking At The Rolex Gifted To Sir Edmund Hillary After His Everest Ascent to read the full article.

The Rolex Datejust is arguably the most versatile and enduring watch in the Genevan brand’s lineup. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the model, so we decided to mark the occasion. Over the past few weeks, members of our editorial team have shared their favorite Datejust references. Now it’s time to gather them all […]

Visit Finding The Best Rolex Datejust Of All Time — Which One Gets Your Vote? to read the full article.

Before I start this article, there’s something I must confess: I do not currently have a favorite Rolex Datejust. It’s not because I don’t like the watch or because I’ve tried and failed to find one — quite the opposite. If I can’t quickly name my favorite reference of this octogenarian Rolex model, it’s simply […]

Visit Selection By Elimination — How I Found The Perfect Rolex Datejust to read the full article.

The chronograph and dive bezel are, I would argue, two of the most useful horological “bonuses” available to us watch consumers. Essentially, both do the same thing — measure elapsed time. Technically, there’s much more that each can do, but that is the function they share. The way they measure elapsed time, however, is different, […]

Visit The Chronograph Vs. The Dive Bezel — Which One Is For You? to read the full article.

Choosing my favorite Datejust wasn’t a simple exercise. From 2021 through most of 2023, I acquired several vintage references. Each one was chosen for a reason. Hard-to-find dials combined with sharp cases and atypical bezels were my game. Two years later, these Datejust models remain as regular options in my wearing rotation. They’re fantastic, fit […]

Visit My Favorite Datejust Is A 1601 No-Lume Lavender Dial to read the full article.

Since we’re celebrating the 80th birthday of the Rolex Datejust, we thought it would be a good idea to have Fratello writers pick their favorite one of all time. The biggest challenge of writing an article in the tail-end of this Datejust series is that other writers have already claimed some of my favorite picks. […]

Visit Turning Visual Brilliance Up To Eleven With A White Gold Rolex Datejust With A Burl Wood Dial to read the full article.

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the Datejust, which, according to my colleague Gerard, is “the mother of all modern wristwatches.” And I don’t disagree. When Rolex introduced this watch in 1945, it set a new direction for the company, and many other brands followed (much later). A wristwatch for everyday use, with a […]

Visit Here’s Why The Rolex Datejust 16234 Ticks All The Boxes to read the full article.

There is just something inherently different about a Rolex Day-Date. Putting the brand’s top-of-the-line model on your wrist isn’t quite like wearing a gold Daytona or GMT-Master. Why? The obvious answer would be that it’s not a sports watch like the other two. But that’s too easy. The true answer has more to do with […]

Visit Hands-On With The Majestic Everose Gold Rolex Day-Date 36 With An Olive Green Dial to read the full article.

The mighty Rolex Datejust turns 80 this year. That makes it one of the longest continually produced watches out there, which is no small feat. At Fratello, we intend to celebrate with a series of articles on the model, and today it’s my turn to choose my all-time favorite. That’s not an easy task, though. […]

Visit My Favorite Rolex Datejust Doesn’t Exist Yet — But These References Come Quite Close to read the full article.

The greatest watch story ever told is the story of the Omega Speedmaster, the first watch worn on the Moon. That’s a fact. Another fact is that luxury in general is not about selling products. Rather, it is about emotion. That certainly is the case with post-Quartz Crisis luxury watches. The key to successfully selling […]

Visit Does Storytelling Still Sell Watches In 2025? to read the full article.