The new Datejust 36 has one of the most eye-catching dial designs I can think of that Rolex has ever manufactured.

In a year of iterative updates from much of the industry — following the ongoing recovery from the pandemic that’s ravaged the majority of the world’s consumer product manufacturers — many watchmakers “played it safe.” And you needn’t look any further than Rolex to see that their new Explorer II timepiece, which barring the new movement inside, is virtually unchanged on the outside.

Yet, even with the marginal evolutions that Rolex is legendary for dropping every year, and despite the lackluster level of newness across most of the industry, Rolex actually debuted a timepiece that stands in contrast with its playful aesthetic compared to their typical designs.

The Rolex Datejust 36 (Ref. 126200) with an Olive Green Palm dial is perhaps the most niche piece in the company’s catalog other than say, limited production Rainbow Rolexes. That is if there’s such a thing as a niche when talking about a company that produces an estimated 1,000,000 wristwatches a year, and that commands an estimated 25% of the Swiss watch industry topline revenue (according to Morgan Stanley’s 2021 Report).

The Olive Green Palm design follows the “hot right now” green trend — but without copying it. It’s nice that at least some of the Rolex catalog veers away from the norm — while also staying on trend with the green color scheme, a color that’s been synonymous with Rolex long before the recent trend, and that already punctuates the likes of very popular watches such as Submariners, Datejusts, and Daytonas. Some companies offered a new green dial or two in 2021, while others offered a plethora of them, yet Rolex offered a unique olive green sunburst dial with a Palm Tree leave pattern. They’re clearly trendsetters — not followers.

Retail is $7,050. Learn more at Rolex.