The Vault › All references › Lady-Datejust
Lady-Datejust · 2000s to mid-2010s
“Steel & White Gold 26”
Grade A · 86/100Today's call: Buy
A: strong buy-and-hold. Ranked #12 of 129 references in The Crown Index vault.
| Original retail (2010) | $7,500 |
|---|---|
| Market today | $8,300 – $8,800 |
| Vs original retail | +14% |
| 1-year trend | +32% |
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 material | 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) |
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