The History of Two-Tone Watches
While two-tone watches were most popular in the 1980s, this style first appeared decades before—as early as the 1930s. In the time spanning between the 1930s and the rise in popularity of two-tone watches, simple and elegant pieces were more popular. Following WWII and during reconstruction, enthusiasts wanted a minimalist style that straddled innovation and tradition. It wasn’t until the 1970s, when Rolex, and similar watch manufacturers, got bolder with their design that two-tone watches saw a rise in popularity.
Two-Tone Rolex Watches: Cultivating an Image
The popularity of these watches was helped greatly by Hollywood. In Magnum P.I., Tom Selleck sported a Rolex GMT-Master 16750 while numerous other big-name Hollywood actors wore two-tone Rolex watches both on-screen and off. For Rolex, this accomplished two goals: it introduced the public to two-tone sports-watches, and it established that to own one was to be, at the time, cool, hip and sexy.
Two-tone watches were a symbol of working hard and playing hard. Many men received a solid gold watch as a retirement gift, but for those still working toward retirement, two-tone watches were active and happening.
The Return of Rolex Two-Tone Watches
Like many trends, the popularity of two-tone watches is coming back and Rolex is happy to oblige. Designing watches with different alloys and incorporating colors into some of their watches has given watch collectors a fresh take on two-tone watches. Within the Rolex inventory, many collections feature a selection of beautiful two-tone pieces.
Datejust
This versatile collection features a variety of two-tone watches and has many vintage models for collectors to enjoy. One example is the Rolex Datejust, ref. 16013. This stainless steel and yellow gold watch was made in 1987, during the height of popularity for this style. It features a gold bezel and dial, and has the distinct look of many vintage two-tone pieces from that era. As these watches have grown in popularity, similar styles with a modern twist have been created. One example is the Rolex Datejust II 116333, which has all of the same attributes as its 1987 predecessor, but with a more modern appearance.
Submariner
Like the Datejust collection, many Submariner watches embrace mixing alloys and colors to create unique timepieces. For instance, the Submariner Date 16613 stands out from many other luxury watches due to a rich, deep gold dial, blue bezel, and a stainless steel and gold band. The yellow gold alloy that Rolex used for this band is lighter than the gold used for the dial, making it a striking two-tone Rolex watch that stands out even amongst the pack.