Manufacturer: Rolex Year: Circa 1990 Reference No: 16238 Movement No: 5’989’446 Case No: E270’068 Model Name: Datejust Material: 18K yellow gold Calibre: Automatic, cal. 3135, 31 jewels Bracelet/Strap: 18K yellow gold Rolex Jubilee bracelet, endlinks stamped “49B”, max length 180mm Clasp/Buckle: 18K yellow gold Rolex concealed folding clasp Dimensions: 36mm diameter Signed: Case, dial, movement, bracelet and clasp signed
Catalogue Essay
Revolutionizing the industry, the Rolex Datejust was the world’s first wristwatch to incorporate a display of the date via the ref. 4467 in 1945. However in 1954, Rolex upgraded the Datejust with a date magnifier attached on the surface of the crystal to enhance its legibility, known as the Cyclopes date.
In 1977, Rolex released the newly upgraded ref. 16000 series powered by the new cal. 3035 with a quickset date function. After a decade later, the 16200 series was introduced with an upgraded cal. 3135 as well as an upgraded crystal to sapphire transitioning from Plexiglass.
The present Rolex Datejust ref. 16238 in yellow gold from circa 1990 fitted with a Jubilee bracelet is a nice and classic example of the coveted Datejust with modern upgrades. Featuring a lacquer white dial with applied gold Roman numerals, the present timepiece is indeed a perfect timepiece for an important meeting in any prestigious boardroom.
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.
