It’s the question every Rolex collector has heard many times and the one they hope they never have to answer: if you could only wear one watch for the rest of your life, which would it be? I won’t pretend it would be an easy decision. Actually, let’s face it, for some collectors, it would be their own personal Sophie’s Choice moment. If you’re only going to be wearing one watch from now on, it needs to be one that you can wear in any situation. A watch equally at home in the boardroom as it is by the pool. For me, that will always be the Rolex Datejust 36mm ref 116234. The most PERFECTLY constructed DJ EVER. With its first iteration released in 1945 to celebrate the company’s 40^(th) anniversary, the core design of the Datejust has barely changed over the seven decades it’s been in continuous production. And the reason for that is simple: they got it right first time. There haven’t been many over the years, but there are a small handful of designs that were pretty much nailed right out of the gate, leaving very little to be done with them over the subsequent decades, bar delicate tweaks and subtle improvements. They are the ones that have stood the test and ravages of time and transcended anything as ephemeral or subjective as fashion. Where watches are concerned, the Rolex Datejust is perhaps the most convincing example. So, out of the entire catalogue, why that particular piece? Why not the Submariner? Or the Sea-Dweller? Why not the bigger Datejust II? Don’t get me wrong; if someone told me I could only wear one of those for the rest of my life, it wouldn’t be the worst thing that’s ever happened to me. But personally, I think the Datejust 36mm ref 116234 has the most versatility. It has an understated modesty I like, while still being tough enough to handle anything. I admit it doesn’t have the additional features that have made the sports models the world-leaders they are. It doesn’t have the Sea Dweller’s helium escape valve for instance. That’s ok. I don’t do a whole lot of commercial oilrig diving. Realistically, the 100 meters of waterproofing provided by the Datejust’s case is all you'll ever need. Asking $8,299 obo