Rolex Lady-Datejust 28 Reference 279384RBR

It is exceedingly rare for a Rolex watch to combine a largely steel exterior with the lavish use of diamonds: this Lady-Datejust 28 ranks among those select few, very special pieces.

First, the 28mm wide case. The iconic and remarkarbly rugged Oyster case features a monobloc middle case and a specially designed caseback: both are crafted from Oystersteel, the highly corrosion resistant and uniquely lustrous stainless steel that Rolex uses.

The bezel, if fluted or set with diamonds, is always crafted from a variation of 18ct gold on a Rolex watch. No diamond-set or fluted bezel crafted from steel or platinum is available from Rolex.

For this Lady-Datejust, 18ct white gold was chosen for the bezel, with 48 brilliant-cut diamonds individually and expertly hand-set into it.

Gem-setting, along with the sorting and verifying of the precious stones, is a task that is performed in-house, by Rolex, inside the Rolex facilities.

The bracelet, a three-link Oyster bracelet with a folding Oysterclasp, is crafted entirely from Oystersteel, without the use of 18ct white gold anywhere in its construction.

This combination of a heavy reliance on Oystersteel, with the calculated use of 18ct white gold and diamonds, render the Lady-Datejust a rare proposition among Rolex timepieces both in terms of aesthetics, wearing experience and pricing.

The dial, a velvety grey with hues of dark purple and brown, features 10 indices also crafted from 18ct white gold, set with brilliant-cut indices. Rolex exclusively uses 18ct gold for the hands and indices on all its timepieces — irrespective of the material used for the experience. The painstakingly set diamonds on this Lady-Datejust, however, beautifully complement the ribbon of diamonds that frame the dial.

Powered by the Manufacture Rolex Caliber 2236, this Lady-Datejust is a Superlative Chronometer with outstanding timekeeping performance, dependability, and a long, 55-hour power reserve that is extremely rare for a watch of such minute proportions.