製造商: Rolex 年份: Circa 2003 型號: 16234 錶殼號碼: Y362’744 型號名稱: Datejust 材料: Stainless steel and 18K white gold 機芯: Automatic, cal. 3135, 31 jewels 錶帶/ 錶鏈: Stainless steel Rolex Jubilee bracelet, endlinks stamped “555,B”, max length 185mm 錶扣: Stainless steel Rolex Oyster deployant clasp stamped “DT8” 尺寸: 36mm diameter 簽名: Case, dial, movement, bracelet and clasp signed 配件: Accompanied by undated Rolex guarantee stamped SKM Duty Free, instruction manual, product literature, 2001-2002 calendar card, green card holder, hang tag, outer packaging and fitted presentation box.
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Regarded as one of the most iconic Rolex wristwatches since its initial introduction in the 1940s, the Datejust was the world’s first self-winding wristwatch with a date function. Released only in 18K yellow gold initially, Rolex only introduced stainless steel variants of the model in the 1950s alongside its two-tone counterpart. Still in production till date, the Datejust has enjoyed a diverse lineup over the years with iterations in various sizes, materials, and dials.
In 1988, Rolex introduced the ref. 16234, fitted with an upgraded cal. 3135. However, the most significant upgrade for this reference was the introduction of the sapphire crystal, differing from its previous model which utilized the traditional plexiglas.
The present example in stainless steel with an 18K white gold bezel ref. 16234, features a beautiful and rare blue sodalite dial with diamond-set indexes. Sodalite is a material that has been featured in other Rolex models such as the Daytona and Day-Date. Requiring extreme precision and delicacy to execute, Rolex hardstone dials are rare and unique as each hardstone dial will never be identical to another. Presented with the full set of accessories and offered in excellent overall condition, the present ref. 16234 is most definitely a sleeper as the demand for Rolex hardstone dials have always been a collector’s favorite.
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.