Rolex Vault › All references › Lady-Datejust
Lady-Datejust · 2000s to mid-2010s · Discontinued
“Steel & White Gold 26”
Rank #47 of 113 rated pieces in the Rolex Vault
Market range: the middle half of 38 recorded eBay sales in the last 12 months.
Median recorded eBay sale price for each quarter with 3 or more sales. Dashed line marks the 2010 retail price.
The top pick of the 26mm boom: sapphire crystal, modern 2235 movement, white-metal styling that matches current fashion, and a discontinued size (the line moved to 28mm).
Dealer averages rose 32.2 percent from December 2025 to May 2026 as small watches surged. Original retail ran $7,150 to $7,800; diamond dials ran $9,200 to $11,200.
The 26mm Lady-Datejust spent two decades as 'the wife's watch' in dealer parlance, then an entire generation discovered small watches at once and it became the hardest-trending corner of the pre-owned market.
This final 26mm generation has the best movement of the run (the 2235) and the white gold fluted bezel at a steel-adjacent price. It rose faster in the last two years than almost everything else on this site, receipts in the sold table.
Our verdict: Best risk-adjusted buy in the ladies' market right now. Modern build, dead supply, live demand.
| Sizes | 26mm |
|---|---|
| Case & bracelet | Oystersteel, 18k white gold bezel |
| Factory bracelet | Jubilee or Oyster (Jubilee most common) |
| Factory bezels | Fluted 18k white gold; Smooth steel (179160); Diamond (179384, factory only) |
| Notable dials | Silver Roman; White Roman; Pink; Mother of pearl; Factory diamond dials |
| Caliber | 2235 |
| Production | 2000s to mid-2010s (discontinued) |
| Sold | Example | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 12, 2026 | Pre-owned · eBay sale ↗︎ | $7,659 |
| Oct 8, 2026 | Pre-owned · eBay sale ↗︎ | $7,007 |
| Oct 5, 2026 | Pre-owned · eBay sale ↗︎ | $6,850 |
| Oct 3, 2026 | Pre-owned · eBay sale ↗︎ | $7,695 |
| Oct 2, 2026 | Pre-owned · eBay sale ↗︎ | $7,209 |
| Sep 23, 2026 | Pre-owned · eBay sale ↗︎ | $6,500 |
Recorded eBay completed sales, logged at our last data refresh.
Recorded eBay sales from the last 12 months put the typical Rolex Lady-Datejust 26 179174 at $6,500, with the middle half selling between $5,600 and $7,400 (38 sales). Condition, box and papers move the price within that range.
No. The typical sale of $6,500 is about 13% below the $7,500 retail (2010).
The Crown Index grades it B+ (78/100) from real resale data, and today's call is hold. Solid resale, with limited room to grow from today's price. Past prices are not a forecast.