1979 Rolex Datejust 26 in Yellow Gold with Diamond Dial

Some watches you wear. Some watches you live in. This one is both.

This is a 1979 Rolex Datejust in 26mm yellow gold — the smaller, quietly elegant size that has never gone out of style. It arrived from the factory decades ago and has spent the years since becoming something even more personal: a dial set with custom silver diamonds, a bezel that catches light the way only real stones do, and a President bracelet that sits on the wrist like it was made for you. Because, honestly, it was made for someone who understood exactly what they wanted.

What Makes This Reference Special

The Datejust 26 in yellow gold is one of the great classics of the Rolex women's collection. The 6917 is a non-quick-set reference, meaning the date is set the traditional way — a small detail that places it firmly in the era it came from, and one that collectors appreciate as a mark of authenticity. Pieces from this generation carry a warmth that newer versions simply can't replicate: the gold has a depth that only comes with age, and the proportions feel considered rather than scaled.

The Custom Diamond Upgrades

The diamond dial and diamond bezel on this piece are custom upgrades — not factory originals, and that is worth knowing before you fall in love with it (though you probably already have). Custom diamond work on a Rolex of this age is common among collectors who want something that reads as genuinely personal rather than off-the-shelf. The silver dial background gives the stones a clean, bright stage. The bezel diamonds frame the watch face with just enough sparkle to be noticed without shouting. Together they make this Datejust feel like jewelry first and a timepiece second — which, at 26mm on a President bracelet, is exactly the right balance.

What to Know Before You Buy

This watch comes to you in used condition, without original box or papers — typical for a vintage piece of this age, and no barrier to enjoyment or value for the right buyer. The 6917 is a well-documented reference with a healthy collector following, and examples with diamond customisation regularly trade in a range that reflects both the base watch and the quality of the stone work.

At My Watch Dealer, every watch is checked on our own bench before it leaves us. This piece comes with a 2-year store warranty covering the movement, a MyLuxApp-certified written appraisal, and a presentation box. We ship insured overnight with signature required, and returns are welcome within 7 days of delivery on unworn pieces.

This Datejust is priced at $6,272 — a fair entry point for a yellow gold diamond Datejust from this generation on a President bracelet.

Wear it every day, give it as a gift that will be remembered, or add it to a collection that already knows what good looks like. This is a 1979 Rolex — it has already proven it lasts.