The two-tone Datejust with the factory diamond bezel and the wave dial.

The Datejust 36 is the watch Rolex built its reputation on: the first self-winding wristwatch with a date that changed at midnight, launched in 1945, and made ever since in a 36mm Oyster case with a screw-down crown, an automatic chronometer movement, the date under its Cyclops lens at three, a fluted, smooth or engine-turned bezel, and a Jubilee or Oyster bracelet. Because Rolex made it for eight decades in every dial and metal, the pre-owned market is deep and this is where the money goes when people search for a Rolex that is not a Submariner.

The 116243 is the two-tone Datejust 36 Rolex sold with a diamond-set bezel from the factory, the yellow gold ring carrying a row of brilliants in place of fluting, and the blue wave dial is one of its catalogue dials: a blue face with a moulded wave pattern, ROLEX repeated across it in fine type, and the 6 and 9 numerals paved with diamonds. It comes on the two-tone Jubilee with the Crownclasp. The title calls the dial pave; it is not, the diamonds are in the two numerals. The seller calls the bezel white gold; Rolex made the 116243 with a yellow gold bezel to match the yellow Rolesor case, and the photograph shows yellow, so the copy says yellow and tells you to ask.

WGACA gives the reference as 116243, the case as 36mm steel with an 18k white gold and diamond bezel and sapphire crystal, a quickset date, a blue wave logo dial with diamond Arabic 6 and 9 and baton markers, a steel and 18k gold Jubilee with a hidden crown clasp, papers and branded box, serial V79xxxx, a wrist size of 9.5 to 11 inches and the condition as Excellent with faint scratching to the back of the case. The yellow gold reading of the bezel is from Rolex’s catalogue and the photograph; the calibre, chronometer rating, reserve and 100 metres are Rolex’s published figures for the 116243.

WGACA authenticates in-house and is not a Rolex authorised dealer, and Amazon adds its 30-day return window. Ask whether the bezel is yellow or white gold, confirm the papers match the serial, and ask when it was last serviced. Nothing here was measured on the watch.

This unit is sold by What Goes Around Comes Around (WGACA) through Amazon Luxury Stores, authenticated by the seller with Amazon’s 30-day return window on top; it is one piece, and when it sells the listing goes away, so the second button opens the live search for 36mm Datejusts.

Steel and two-tone Datejusts have resold close to what pre-owned buyers paid, sometimes more, sometimes less; that is a pattern, not a promise, and nothing here is investment advice.