Datejust 80th Anniversary: Will Rolex Bring Back the Jubilee Dial?

Rolex is about to hit a double milestone in 2025: the 80th anniversary of the Datejust and the 120th anniversary of the brand itself. Given Rolex’s track record of celebrating milestones with eye-catching designs (e.g. the Kermit Sub, platinum Daytona, green-dial GMT 116718LN), 2025 is shaping up to be an exciting year for the Datejust and for Rolex as a whole. With this in mind, I predict that Rolex will reintroduce the discontinued “Jubilee Dial” on the Datejust this year.

A Look Back: The Jubilee Dial’s Origins

Image Source: Analog:Shift

In 1985, Rolex celebrated the Datejust’s 40th anniversary by unveiling the boldly patterned Jubilee Dial. Not to be confused with the Jubilee bracelet, the Jubilee Dial displays a repeated “ROLEX” logo, creating a somewhat dizzying, almost hypnotic backdrop.

This motif perfectly captured the ‘80s era of “logo-mania,” as Rolex expert Paul Altieri describes it, when luxury brands made no apologies for loud, front-and-center branding. The Jubilee Dial—in its many forms—eventually found its way onto multiple Datejust, Lady-Datejust, and Cellini models before fading from the lineup around 2020–2021. The discontinuation made room for other unconventional designs, such as the palm and fluted motif dials—but it left some fans hoping for a revival.

Why 2025 Is a Prime Moment

Image Source: Swiss Watch Expo

Two anniversaries collide in 2025: eight decades of Datejust and 120 years of Rolex. The Crown has never been shy about leveraging anniversaries to launch celebratory models, and the Datejust is historically central to the brand’s identity. This is the perfect time for Rolex to reintroduce the Jubilee Dial. In fact, its somewhat recent discontinuation (after decades of production) feels intentional ahead of this anniversary: like Rolex knew its return was imminent.

Recent releases support the idea that Rolex remains open to daring dial designs. The 2023 Oyster Perpetual ‘Celebration Dial’ and Day-Date ‘Puzzle Dial’ both broke from the brand’s conservative reputation, showing a willingness to embrace louder aesthetic choices. This was backed up by last year’s ice blue guilloche 1908.

If Rolex is willing to experiment with bubbles, puzzles, and emojis, why not a return to the pattern that once defined an anniversary celebration? By its very name, “Jubilee” conveys the notion of an anniversary.

The Case for a Comeback 

Of course, no official confirmations exist, so this remains an informed guess. Still, the pattern is hard to ignore (pun intended): Rolex rarely misses an opportunity to commemorate a noteworthy anniversary.

Those who appreciated the now-discontinued Jubilee Dial—which I understand is not everyone—recall how it provided a vivid, modern touch to an otherwise classic watch from the ‘40s. With the current market seeking standout pieces, vintage-inspiration, and deep-cut favorites, reintroducing a once beloved (and polarizing) design could reignite enthusiasm.

Potential Design Twists

If Rolex does bring back the Jubilee Dial, there’s plenty of room for modern twists. Perhaps we’ll see the first-ever green Jubilee Dial: entirely plausible given Rolex’s tendency to use green on anniversary models. Maybe they’ll adapt the repetitive “ROLEX” pattern with updated typography or integrate color gradients.

Final Thoughts

While there’s no guarantee the Jubilee Dial will return, the timing and Rolex’s history of anniversary tributes make it a strong possibility. If you’re a Datejust devotee, now is the time to keep an eye on the rumor mill and await official announcements. If you’re into that kind of thing, subscribe to our email newsletter. We have lots more predictions on the way, and it’s only a matter of months until we’re in Geneva covering these releases in-person.

What do you think of the Jubilee Dial? Let us know in the comments below, and if you’re looking to customize your Rolex (Datejust or otherwise), check out our selection of curved-end straps for various models.