Rolex Datejust 26 Everose Rolesor — White Roman Dial | Ref. 179161

Reference 179161 is a 26mm Datejust in Everose Rolesor — the combination of Oystersteel with 18ct Everose gold elements — fitted with a white dial displaying Roman numeral hour markers. The 179xxx reference block places this watch in the previous generation of Rolex's smaller Datejust models, predating the 2023 introduction of the current Lady-Datejust 28mm and Datejust 31mm calibre update. At 26mm, this is the most compact Datejust case size produced in this generation, and the Everose Rolesor construction — with its warm rose gold crown guards, bezel, and bracelet centre links — gives the watch a distinctive warmth that sets it apart from the cooler white Rolesor or all-steel variants.

The movement is the Calibre 2235, the predecessor to the current 2236. While it lacks the Syloxi silicon hairspring of its successor, the 2235 remains a robust, COSC-certified automatic calibre that has proven its reliability over decades of production. The white dial in Roman numeral configuration provides high legibility against the warm-toned case materials, the numerals' proportions scaled appropriately for the 26mm format. The Jubilee bracelet in Oystersteel with Everose gold centre links is the standard bracelet for this reference, its fine five-piece link construction well-suited to the delicate scale of the case.

Buyers considering the 179161 are typically approaching the pre-owned market, as this reference is no longer in current production. Pre-owned pricing reflects the watch's status as a transitional-generation piece — newer than vintage but not current — and values are generally accessible relative to equivalent 28mm models in the current reference range. For buyers who prefer the smaller 26mm format or who want an Everose Rolesor Datejust at a more measured price point, the 179161 offers the full Rolex quality proposition in a size that the brand no longer produces, lending it a degree of rarity by attrition.