Second Opinions Two-Tone Isn’t Ugly

Two-tone is the physical embodiment of work-hard, play-hard – which was basically the decade’s whole mantra.

We’ve covered Tom Selleck and Magnum P.I. on the site this week, but it bears repeating that while Magnum was defined by the Rolex GMT-Master 16750, Selleck’s personal watch at the time was a two-tone Rolex Datejust. Don Johnson, of Miami Vice – also a two-tone guy. Richard Gere, well…you get the idea. American Psycho had Wall Street banker and serial-murderer Patrick Bateman (as played by Christian Bale) wear a two-tone Rolex Datejust with a seldom-seen linen dial.

Even without that movie, the Datejust would be the most iconic two-tone. Unlike other watches (the Nautilus, Royal Oak, Overseas, etc.) the watch is defined by its two-tone model. The Datejust is two-tone on a matching two-tone jubilee bracelet, and though not an invention of the ’80s, it’s a watch that’s come to define the decade. Aside from being an empirically good-looking timepiece, it also represents some of the best value in vintage watches today. Dare I say, this is the most under-appreciated watch in existence? I dare say. I’m saying it.