The Name "DateJust"

[crusader]

I'm guessing that Rolex wanted to draw some distinction between their watch model that has both the day and the date and their model that has "just the date". But am I the only one that thinks that DateJust is a strange name for a watch model? It just seems like an over-simplification to me. It also sounds like a name that a child might come up with.

The DJ is still a beautiful watch no matter what it's called!

[Spark]

The Date-Just was introduced 11 years before the Day-Date and was actually the first watch to have the date displayed on the dial at 3 o'clock through a window in the dial, prior to this it was usually done using a hand pointer.
So with that in mind the Just is unlikely to be for Just a Date as Rolex would have been quite proud of their new model, but I must say I've never investigated the reason for Date-Just.

[pwrslider]

Bo would know......but Bo has left the building!!

[JJ Irani]

The DJ..............ideal for those who want JUST a DATE and nothing else from a watch!!

[Art161]

Originally Posted by JJ Irani

The DJ..............ideal for those who want JUST a DATE and nothing else from a watch!!

At least the watch doesn't expect me to buy dinner for it.

[arttay10]

Originally Posted by Art161

At least the watch doesn't expect me to buy dinner for it.

no - but lets face it Arthur, they are just as costly......

[llamaofdoom]

Short for "Date Adjust". Why "Date Adjust", I do not know.

[gsgarbear2]

From what I've read, the "Just" portion of "Datejust" means "Just in time" meaning the date changes at midnight, being just in time. Correct me if I am wrong.

[Art161]

Originally Posted by Art161

At least the watch doesn't expect me to buy dinner for it.

Originally Posted by arttay10

no - but lets face it Arthur, they are just as costly......

The Rolex is inexpensive by comparison.

[toph]

i wonder too as you have the date models too?

[Art161]

Originally Posted by toph

i wonder too as you have the date models too?

I have a somewhat old Date watch and a Datejust watch. Apparently the new Date watches are different from the older ones. There is no QuickSet feature on my Date watch, but there is on my Datejust watch.

From what I have been reading on this forum, the only difference between the current Date and Datejust watches is that the former is 34 mm and the latter is 36 mm. I am at a loss as to why Rolex would manufacture watches with different names if the only difference is 2 mm in size.

[Tools]

According to "The Best Of Time" Dowling-Hess, Rolex had originally registered the name "Ritedate", however, Wilsdorf wanted to name it "Victory" after the recent Allied victories.

It further states that "...on the occasion of the celebration of the 40th jubilee of the founding of Rolex, it was called "Datejust" and the model was "Jubilee", although the name came later to be applied only to the bracelet of the new watch."

[BigHat]

Originally Posted by gsgarbear2

From what I've read, the "Just" portion of "Datejust" means "Just in time" meaning the date changes at midnight, being just in time. Correct me if I am wrong.

I thought it was to capture the concept of an Adjusting Date watch

[mgm]

Originally Posted by Tools

Rolex had originally registered the name "Ritedate"

Both the word "adjust" and "just" have the same root, "just" implying right, based in truth, and "adjust" being toward the truth. Since the original intention is Ritedate, and rite (why do they do that with spelling?!!) meaning the right date, Datejust is merely a word reversal of the intended meaning. Could as well have called it Daterite...

[Tools]

So, from a Swiss to English interpretation and understanding perspective, the word "DateJust", could be understood to be nothing more than "Visually, and accurately, showing the correct date"

[michaelhutchinson]

I have also always been intrigued by the name. Particularly as the Datejust was preceded by the Date. One theory I had was that when it was launched, and for some time after, it was only available with the JUbilee STrap.......JUST a thought!!!

[mgm]

Originally Posted by Tools

So, from a Swiss to English interpretation and understanding perspective, the word "DateJust", could be understood to be nothing more than "Visually, and accurately, showing the correct date"

Yes, with the adjective following the noun, as in Latin (the other international language) and ensuing Romance languages...

[DSJ]

I always thought the original "Datejust" could have the date adjusted by swinging the hands back and forth across midnight rather than all the way through the 24 hour cycle.

[jeff hess]

So, from a Swiss to English interpretation and understanding perspective, the word "DateJust", could be understood to be nothing more than "Visually, and accurately, showing the correct date"
===========================

Gregory and Tools are probably correct. Wilsdorf was a name junkie who scooped up many many names. And he strove for simple names that could be understood in many languages.

Jeff

[C. Davidson]

Quote from WatchTime, October 2004, The Status Symbol, Gisbert L. Brunner:

Rolex wanted to introduce a date display watch to mark the firm's 40th birthday in 1945. The Datejust (Caliber 740) was a world's first, becoming an archetype that would influence the technology and appearance of generations of subsequent watches. The watch's name was carefully selected: "Date" is self-explanatory, while "Just" stands for "just in time". And this means that the date display advances to show the next day's date without delay at midnight.

[scottschoe]

Originally Posted by C. Davidson

And this means that the date display advances to show the next day's date without delay at midnight.

I suppose in fine print it read "give or take a few minutes"

[VtailFlyer]

Originally Posted by gsgarbear2

From what I've read, the "Just" portion of "Datejust" means "Just in time" meaning the date changes at midnight, being just in time. Correct me if I am wrong.

You are correct sir. No correction necessary.