1991 Rolex Datejust 36mm White Roman 'Buckley' Diamond Dial 16233

Here we have the stately 1991 Rolex Datejust White Roman 'Buckley' Diamond Dial 16233, which has a 36mm Oyster satin brushed and polished stainless steel case that gently curves over your wrist thanks to the tapered drilled lugs. The Buckley dial has Roman numerals printed in a particular “font” rather than the usual applied indexes. The name of the dial is derived from John Buckley, a vintage watch dealer from New York, who owns the company, Tuscany Rose. Buckley is a respected watch expert and highly respected in the Rolex world. Over time, these particular style dials took on his name. Its curvaceous flanks lead to a lug-to-lug length of 44.5mm and a case thickness of 11.5mm. Ensuring a comfortable fit under your wrist. On the right side, a signed screw-down 18ct yellow gold crown. Polished and brushed surfaces transition with crisp lines. An 18ct yellow gold fluted bezel holds a bevelled flat sapphire crystal. The striking white Buckley dial has an outer minute track with beautiful, rare factory diamonds set in 18ct yellow gold at the hour, and finely printed ‘Buckley’ Roman numerals mark the hours. At 3 o’clock, a colour-matched date window with cyclops magnification on the crystal makes the date easily read. Slim 18ct yellow gold hands have Tritium infill complemented by a tapered 18ct yellow gold sweeping seconds hand. An applied Rolex crown sits at 12 o’clock with ‘Rolex Oyster Perpetual DATEJUST’ and printed clearly at 6 o’clock ‘Superlative Chronometer Officially Certified’, the dial sparkles mesmerisingly in the light as you rotate your wrist. On the reverse, a coin-edge screw-down case back. Inside an Automatic Rolex Cal. 3135, 31 jewels, 28,800 beats per hour, this movement was first introduced in 1988 and has hacking seconds and a quick-set date function for your convenience. It comes paired with its full-sized Rolex 20mm Jubilee stainless steel and 18ct yellow gold centre links bracelet, secured with a signed folding clasp and includes its Rolex presentation box, swing tag and paperwork.

This watch is sold with its Rolex box, swing tag and paperwork. It comes paired with its full-sized Rolex 20mm Jubilee stainless steel and 18ct yellow gold centre links bracelet, secured with a signed folding clasp. The watch is from October 1991 and is in unpolished condition, with an amazing ‘Gold-Burn’ where the watch hasn’t been used in 10+ years, the sticker is still present on the case back. A full case and bracelet refurb can be provided at an additional cost. The watch comes with our 12-Months NON-Waterproof Warranty.

I love it when a watch comes to that has genuinely been left in a drawer for many years and shows signs of it, just like this wonderful Rolex Datejust 16233 with its 'Roman Buckley' diamond dial, a rare combination. The gold has developed a lovely 'gold-burn', making it look closer to rose than yellow gold. This happens through oxidation and lack of usage, and can be brought to bright yellow again easily, but the appeal to me is much stronger with the 'burn'. This sharp and strong example still has its original case back sticker present and comes with its box and paperwork dating to 1991, not something you see often. I would not hesitate to add this gem to your collection today, whilst you can!

Reference : 16233
Movement : Automatic Rolex Cal. 3135
Age : October 1991
Year : 1991
Case Size : 36mm
Case Thickness : 11.5mm
Lug to Lug : 43.5mm
Lugs : 20mm
Condition : Pre-Owned
Box and Papers : Box & Papers
Case Material : Stainless Steel & 18ct Yellow Gold
Warranty : 12 Months NON-Waterproof Warranty
The wrist model's wrist size is 7inch

In 1905, German-born Hans Wilsdorf and his brother-in-law Alfred Davis set up a company in London that imported Swiss movements which are installed in British cases and sold to jewellers who put their names on the dials. Recognising the potential for their brand, Wilsdorf created the brand name Rolex in 1908. In 1910, a Rolex became the first wristwatch to carry the Swiss Certificate of Chronometric Precision, awarded by the Official Watch Rating Centre in Bienne, Switzerland. Demand for Rolex watches rose swiftly, and British taxes on the Swiss movements Rolex used prompted Wilsdorf to move the business to Geneva, Switzerland, in 1919. With production costs lowered, Wilsdorf quickly set out to solve the age-old problem of moisture and dust entering a watch case and damaging the movement. The Rolex watchmakers came up with a fully sealed watch case, which Wilsdorf named the Oyster, and released to an appreciative audience in 1926. In 1931, Rolex introduced the first automatic winding wristwatch, giving it the legendary name Oyster Perpetual. In 1945, they released Datejust. The Datejust was the first watch to have the date jump instantaneously at midnight. The 1950s saw a whole lot of releases such as the Air-King (1958), the Explorer (1953), the Submariner (1953), the GMT Master (1955), the Day-Date (1956), the electromagnetic field resistant Milgauss (1956), the Lady-Datejust (1957) and the first Deep Sea model (1960). Wilsdorf’s death in 1960, saw ownership of Rolex S.A. (a collection of sub-companies) passed to the Hans Wilsdorf Foundation which was founded by Wilsdorf in 1945, the mission of which is simply to sustain Rolex S.A. indefinitely.