Jubilee bracelet
Rolex's five-piece-link steel bracelet, introduced in 1945 for the brand's 40th anniversary and the launch of the Datejust. Three smaller polished centre links between two larger brushed outer links — finer than the Oyster, more sculpted under light.
At a glance
- Introduction
- 1945 (Rolex 40th anniversary, Datejust ref. 4467)
- Link structure
- 5-piece (3 polished centre, 2 brushed outer)
- Material
- stainless steel 904L (Oystersteel), Rolesor, yellow gold, white gold, rose gold
- Current clasp
- Oysterclasp with Easylink (5 mm comfort extension)
- Current models
- Datejust 36/41, Lady-Datejust, GMT-Master II, Sky-Dweller
- End-links
- model-specific reference numbers
- Trademark
- Rolex SA
The Jubilee is Rolex's five-piece-link bracelet, introduced in 1945 for the brand's 40th anniversary together with the launch of the Datejust reference 4467. The name commemorates the anniversary — the Datejust was the first watch with an automatically jumping date complication, and the bracelet was its dedicated companion.
Construction
A Jubilee link consists of five separate pieces side by side:
- Three smaller polished centre pieces. High-gloss, reflecting point sources of light.
- Two larger brushed outer pieces. Matte directional finish framing the polish.
The result is the bracelet's characteristic play of light — as the wrist moves the polished centres flash while the brushed edges stay quiet. Compared with the Oyster bracelet — three broad links, mostly brushed — the Jubilee looks finer, more jewelled, softer on the wrist. It is also slightly more flexible because each link has more articulation points.
Where it appears
Originally exclusive to the Datejust, the Jubilee is now offered as an option across several lines:
- Datejust 36 and 41. Standard configuration; most references can be ordered on either Jubilee or Oyster.
- Lady-Datejust. Classically on Jubilee.
- GMT-Master II. Back in current production since 2018 — the "Batgirl" 126710BLNR on Jubilee was the visible reintroduction after decades.
- Sky-Dweller. Two-tone Rolesor on Jubilee since 2017.
The Submariner is exclusively Oyster bracelet in current production. Vintage Submariners on Jubilee are extremely rare and usually later configurations.
The clasp
Modern Jubilee bracelets carry the Oysterclasp with Easylink — an integrated 5 mm comfort extension that requires no tools. Earlier generations had a flatter folding clasp with crown logo; pressed-clasp folding closures from the 1960s and 1970s are now markers of original condition and are valued accordingly in the vintage market.
Market significance
For collectors, "Jubilee versus Oyster" is a value-relevant configuration choice:
- GMT-Master II 126710BLNR "Batgirl" on Jubilee trades above the same model on Oyster.
- Datejust 36 on Jubilee with fluted white-gold bezel and white dial is the single most-traded Datejust configuration.
- Vintage Datejust references with original Jubilee from the watch's production period trade above watches with a later-replaced bracelet.
Distinction from the President bracelet
The President bracelet — introduced in 1956 with the Day-Date — is not a Jubilee derivative, despite both sharing a dressy-sport positioning. The President has three semicircular pieces per link, is reserved for precious-metal references (yellow gold, white gold, rose gold, platinum), and carries the Crownclasp with a hidden crown release. A Jubilee exists in steel, Rolesor, and in rare precious-metal editions; a President is always precious metal, always Day-Date or Lady-Datejust.
At our atelier in Munich we see both bracelets daily in service. On vintage Datejust intake we check hallmark, end-links and clasp reference — the original Jubilee belongs to provenance.
Frequently asked
- The Oyster is three-link, mostly brushed, sporty and robust in feel. The Jubilee is five-link with polished centre pieces — finer and more jewelled. Wearing feel and value association differ: Oyster reads as tool-watch vocabulary, Jubilee as dressy sports. Both are original Rolex and equal in production quality.