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Rolex Datejust 36
Ref. 126200
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Stepping up in Rolex's range
The Datejust arrived in 1945 as the first wristwatch to carry a self-changing date, and the 36mm case it wore then is the same diameter worn here — though the 126200 is not simply a continuation. Rolex used this generation to refine the case geometry: the lugs are slimmer, the flanks flatter, and the busy outer minute track of its predecessor has been cleared away. The result reads cleaner and sits more proportionally on the wrist than the models it replaced. The calibre 3235 beneath the dial is certified to the Superlative Chronometer standard, which holds it to within two seconds per day after casing — a tighter target than COSC alone, and one Rolex tests on its own equipment. The Parachrom hairspring handles magnetic fields and shock that would disturb a conventional alloy, and the 70-hour reserve means a watch left on a Sunday returns to wearing on a Tuesday without needing to be wound and set. The Easylink extension built into the Oysterclasp adds five millimetres of bracelet length without tools, which matters over the course of a day when a wrist changes with temperature and activity.
- Reference
- 126200
- Brand
- Rolex
- Collection
- Datejust
- Case size
- 36mm
- Case thickness
- 12mm
- Lug width
- 20mm
- Case material
- Stainless steel
- Case shape
- Round
- Dial
- Blue
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Movement
- Automatic
- Calibre
- 3235
- Functions
- Date
- Water resistance
- 100m
- Bracelet / strap
- Stainless steel bracelet
- Strap colour
- Silver
- Clasp
- Folding clasp
- Lume
- Luminous
- Retailer
- Goldsmiths
Additional specifications
- Lug-to-lug
- 43mm
- Power reserve
- 70 hours
Learn more about Rolex
Hans Wilsdorf founded Wilsdorf & Davis in London in 1905 with his brother-in-law Alfred Davis, importing Swiss movements and casing them in England. He registered the name Rolex in 1908 — short, pronounceable in any language, and easy to fit on a dial.
Wilsdorf's conviction was that the wristwatch, then regarded as a woman's ornament and hopelessly fragile, could be made accurate and durable. He proved the first half in 1910 by obtaining the first chronometer certification for a wristwatch, and the second in 1926 with the Oyster case, sealed by a screw-down crown and caseback. Mercedes Gleitze swam the Channel wearing one in 1927, and Wilsdorf bought the front page of the Daily Mail to say so — arguably the first modern watch marketing campaign.
The Perpetual rotor followed in 1931, giving automatic winding in a form the whole industry eventually copied. The company relocated to Geneva during the First World War to escape British wartime duties.
The professional models arrived in a compressed burst in the 1950s: Submariner, Explorer, GMT-Master, Milgauss, and later the Daytona. Each was built for a specific job — diving, exploration, aviation, laboratory work, racing — and each became a design template.
Wilsdorf left his shares to a private foundation on his death, so Rolex answers to no shareholders. It remains the largest producer of certified chronometers in Switzerland by a wide margin.
- 1905
- Hans Wilsdorf founds Wilsdorf & Davis in London.
- 1908
- The Rolex name is registered.
- 1926
- The Oyster case introduces genuine water resistance.
- 1931
- The Perpetual rotor brings modern automatic winding.
- 1953
- The Submariner and Explorer launch.
- 1963
- The Cosmograph Daytona arrives.
Also in 5 collections
This watch appears in the Rolex Datejust range (8), Stainless Steel Watches (3,398), Watches Under 37mm (1,800), Automatic Watches (1,752) and Blue Dial Watches (928).
Manufacturer’s guarantee
What the specifications mean
A mechanical watch for everyday wear.
Strengths
- 100m water resistance covers swimming and watersports
- 36mm suits most wrists
- Sapphire crystal, which resists scratching
- 70-hour reserve survives a weekend off the wrist
- Luminous hands and markers for low light
Rolex Datejust 36 alternatives
Watches from other brands at a similar price, style and size, so you can see what else your budget can buy.
| Specification | 126200 | 16.9400.670/15.I001 | 278559-4001 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £10,350 | £11,300 | £10,700 |
| Case size | 36mm | 36mm | 36mm |
| Water resistance | 100m | 100m | 30m |
| Movement | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic |
| Strap | Stainless steel bracelet | Stainless steel bracelet | Leather strap |
| Power reserve | 70 hours | 50 hours | 62 hours |
| This watch | Closely matched |
|
Your new watch
Frequently asked questions, and things you should know about this watch
Can I swim with it?
Yes. At 100m it is rated for swimming and snorkelling, though not for diving.
Will the glass scratch?
Unlikely. Sapphire is second only to diamond in hardness and shrugs off everyday marking.
Does it need a battery?
No. It is automatic — the motion of your wrist winds it, and there is no cell to replace.
How long does it run for when it's not worn?
About 70 hours fully wound — enough to sit off the wrist over a weekend and still be running.
What size strap does it take?
20mm. Any strap of that width will fit, and on most modern watches quick-release bars make the swap a two-minute job with no tools.
Will it fit my wrist?
Lug-to-lug is 43mm, which suits wrists from roughly 15cm (6 inches) upward.
Lug-to-lug decides fit more than case diameter does.
Is it a men's or women's watch?
Listed as men's, though at 36mm it sits in the range that suits anyone.
Cheapest place to buy
All 3 UK retailers we track list it at £10,350.
Who are Goldsmiths?
Goldsmiths has been selling watches in Britain since 1778 and is part of the Watches of Switzerland Group, which is listed on the London Stock Exchange. They are an authorised dealer, so a watch comes with the manufacturer’s own warranty.
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