Rolex DateJust 41 Mother-of-Pearl Diamond Dial 126334 2021

Reference 126334, Datejust 41 in White Rolesor, with a white mother-of-pearl dial set with diamonds on a Jubilee bracelet.

Mother-of-pearl is the one dial material that cannot be specified twice. It is cut from shell, so the iridescence runs in bands that follow the growth of the animal it came from, and no two slices land the same way. On this one the bands run roughly from eight o’clock towards two, which means the dial lights up on a diagonal as you tilt it and goes flat white when you hold it square to the light. The diamond hour markers sit in gold collets above that surface, catching a separate and harder light of their own.

It is a decorative configuration by any measure, and it is worth being clear that the decoration is factory. Both the shell dial and the gem-setting are Rolex’s own work. Nothing has been added to this watch afterwards.

Calibre 3235, self-winding, approximately 70 hours of power reserve, certified to minus two and plus two seconds a day after casing. Waterproof to 100 metres, with the folding Oysterclasp and its 5 mm Easylink comfort extension.

Near mint, 2021, offered as a full set. Buying second hand is the sensible route into a dial like this, where what you are paying for is one particular piece of shell rather than a specification.

Every watch is authenticated by an independent watchmaker before it changes hands, never by us. Viewing by appointment at our Collins Street boutique in Melbourne, insured delivery Australia-wide. We buy Rolex outright and source specific references on request.