The plain steel Datejust 36 with its box and card.

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 steel Datejust 36 with a smooth bezel on an Oyster bracelet is the plainest Rolex with a date, and Rolex has made it as the 116200 with the calibre 3135 and, since 2018, the 126200 with the calibre 3235 and 70 hours. They look the same; the card date says which this is. Rebag’s grade notes a small mark on the dial, which on a silver dial can be anything from a speck of dust under the crystal to a scratch, so ask for a close-up before deciding.

Rebag gives the case at 36mm and 12mm high, the band at 19mm, a wrist size of about 7 inches, the band and case as stainless steel, the dial colour as silver, an automatic movement with date and a screw-down crown, the box and a dated warranty card as included, and the condition as Very Good with a small mark on the dial and minor wear, and no reference. The smooth bezel, baton dial and Oyster bracelet are from the photograph. The 126200 or 116200 match and its calibre are Rolex’s published figures for the reference it appears to be.

Rebag authenticates in-house and is not a Rolex authorised dealer, and Amazon adds its 30-day return window. Ask for the reference and the serial, whether the removed links come with it, and when it was last serviced. 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.