The plain-steel Datejust. The least expensive men’s Datejust here.

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 16200 is the Datejust with the smooth steel bezel: no fluting, no gold, the bezel a plain polished ring, which makes it the quietest Datejust Rolex made and the one that costs least on the pre-owned market. The blue Roman dial is a Rolex catalogue dial for it. Rebag gives no reference, but the smooth bezel, the Oyster bracelet and a Y-series serial all point at the 16200, and the service record it comes with should carry the reference. Sized to a 6.5 inch wrist; ask about the removed links.

Rebag gives the case at 36mm and 12mm high, the band at 20mm, a wrist size of about 6.5 inches, the band and case as stainless steel, the dial colour as blue, an automatic movement with date and a screw-down crown, the condition as Very Good with scratches and minor wear, and a service record and box as included. It gives no reference; the part number field reads as a Y-series serial, which is an inference. The smooth bezel, Roman numerals and Oyster bracelet are from the photograph; the calibre, chronometer rating, quickset, reserve and 100 metres are Rolex’s published figures for the 16200.

Rebag authenticates in-house and is not a Rolex authorised dealer, and Amazon adds its 30-day return window. Ask for the reference, the service date, whether the removed links come with it, and confirm the serial. Nothing here was measured on the watch.

This unit is sold by Rebag 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.