Manufacturer: Rolex Year: Circa 2002 Reference No: 16234, inside caseback stamped "2080" Movement No: 39'207'815 Case No: K373391 Model Name: Datejust Material: Stainless steel, 18K white gold and diamond-set Calibre: Automatic, cal. 3135, 31 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Stainless steel Rolex Jubilee bracelet stamped "555 B" to the endlinks, max length 205mm Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel Rolex deployant clasp stamped "DE11" and "62510H" Dimensions: 36mm Diameter Signed: Case, dial, movement and clasp signed Accessories: Accompanied by Rolex punched Guarantee stamped by Hong Kong retailer "Oriental Watch Co., Ltd." and dated June 2002, product literature, calendar card for the years 2002/2003, green document holder, Rolex "faux seal" hangtag, numbered hangtag and fitted presentation box.
Catalogue Essay
Introduced first in the 1940s, the Rolex Datejust was the first self-winding wristwatch with a date function. Released only in yellow gold initially, the Datejust has witnessed a diverse range of iterations over the years. The stainless steel and two tone models were only released during the 1950s.
Fast forward to 1988, Rolex introduced the ref. 16234 with an upgraded cal. 3135 and a significant implementation of the sapphire crystal replacing the former fragile Plexiglas, while maintaining mostly unchanged the general aesthetics of the watch.
The present example Rolex Datejust ref. 16234 in stainless steel with an 18K white gold bezel and a mesmerizing blue sodalite dial with diamond-set indexes is a perfect example of the experimental Rolex approach for implementing exciting hardstone dials in their timepieces. While every hardstone dial is unique in its own respect displaying various textures and mottling, the extreme delicacy of transforming a raw hardstone to a dial executed to Rolex’s high expectations is simply an art on its own. Preserved in excellent condition and accompanied by its full set of accessories, the present timepiece is simply a delight to acquire.
Founded in 1905 England by Hans Wilsdorf and Alfred Davis as Wilsdorf & Davis, it soon became known as the Rolex Watch Company in 1915, moving its headquarters to Geneva in 1919. Like no other company, the success of the wristwatch can be attributed to many of Rolex's innovations that made them one of the most respected and well-known of all luxury brands. These innovations include their famous "Oyster" case — the world's first water resistant and dustproof watch case, invented in 1926 — and their "Perpetual" — the first reliable self-winding movement for wristwatches launched in 1933. They would form the foundation for Rolex's Datejust and Day-Date, respectively introduced in 1945 and 1956, but also importantly for their sports watches, such as the Explorer, Submariner and GMT-Master launched in the mid-1950s.
One of its most famous models is the Cosmograph Daytona. Launched in 1963, these chronographs are without any doubt amongst the most iconic and coveted of all collectible wristwatches. Other key collectible models include their most complicated vintage watches, including references 8171 and 6062 with triple calendar and moon phase, "Jean Claude Killy" triple date chronograph models and the Submariner, including early "big-crown" models and military-issued variants.
Ref. 16234, inside caseback stamped "2080" A highly uncommon and spectacular stainless steel and white gold automatic wristwatch with center seconds, date, diamond-set sodalite dial, bracelet, guarantee and presentation box
Circa 2002 36mm Diameter Case, dial, movement and clasp signed
