Notes: This is an interesting 34mm Date model from the 1980s. It is made in gold-plated stainless steel with a smooth polished bezel (also made in gold-plated stainless steel). It comes with a matching gold-plated stainless steel bracelet (3-link ). Dial faces run the gamut including white, black and champagne. The hour marks are typically index but Roman marks are also available. It is one of the rare post-war gold-plated models. Far more often Rolex uses stainless steel, solid gold, or a mix where some parts are stainless and some gold. This is one of the only models made all in gold-plated stainless.

Mechanism: The Rolex caliber 3035 was introduced in 1977 as what many refer to as a high-beat caliber 1575. In 1977, the Cal. 3035 ended the 12-year run of the 1570, it became the first men’s high-beat caliber Rolex had ever made. By increasing the balance speed from 19,800bph to 28,800bph, the new movement was able to offer an even greater level of accuracy and robustness than the already formidable abilities of its predecessor. The 3035 has a hacking capability.

It was this new speed on the 3035, causing the seconds hand to ‘tick’ eight times per second, that introduced the smooth sweep that is so characteristic of Rolex watches. Along with upping the movement’s frequency, which has since been adopted by every subsequent model Rolex has produced, the Cal. 3035 also led the field in another aspect; it was the first automatic caliber to feature a quickset function.

Family Notes: The Rolex "Date" family of watches are smaller and less expensive than their cousins, the "Datejust" family. Date watches are enclosed in 34mm cases, whereas Datejust models are in 36mm cases. Furthermore, the Date models use 19mm width straps while the larger Datejust models use 20mm straps.

Being the less expensive line, new features reach the Date family only after the Datejust watches have already adapted them. For example, the Datejust family received mechanisms with Quickset date capability years before the Date models did.