The two-tone champagne Datejust 36, priced without the paperwork.

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.

Two references made this exact watch with the calibre 3135: the 16233 from the late 1980s to 2005, and the 116233 from 2005 to 2018 with a slightly heavier case and a Jubilee with the concealed Crownclasp. Rebag’s photograph shows a clasp that reads as the older Oysterclasp rather than a Crownclasp, which would point at the 16233, but the serial is the only way to know. Either way it is the two-tone champagne Datejust, the watch Rolex sold more of than any other in the 1990s, graded Very Good with dings on the band and no accessories, which is why it is the least expensive two-tone men’s Datejust here.

Rebag gives the case at 36mm and 12mm high, the band at 20mm, a wrist size of about 7.5 inches, the band as stainless steel with 18k yellow gold, the case as stainless steel, the dial colour as gold, an automatic movement with date and a screw-down crown, no accessories, and the condition as Very Good with scratches, light wear and minor dings on the band. It gives no reference. The fluted bezel, champagne baton dial and Jubilee are from the photograph; the 16233 or 116233 match and the calibre 3135 are Rolex’s figures for the references it can 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, close-up photographs of the dings, 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.