The two-tone Datejust 36 in white Roman, with a service record.

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 the two-tone Datejust 36 with the calibre 3135: the 16233 from the late 1980s to 2005 and the 116233 from 2005 to 2018, which added the concealed Crownclasp and a heavier case. Rebag’s photographs show the older Oysterclasp on these units, which points at the 16233, but only the serial settles it. Rebag has several two-tone Datejust 36s on this page; they differ in dial, wrist size, grade and what comes with them, and the copy on each says which. A service record is worth more than a box on a watch this age: it says when the movement was last opened, and the serial on it should match the case.

Rebag gives the case at 36mm and 12mm high, the band at 20mm, a wrist size of about 7.75 inches, the band as stainless steel with 18k yellow gold, the case as stainless steel, the dial colour as white, an automatic movement with date and a screw-down crown, a service record as included, and the condition as Very Good with moderate scratches, and no reference. The fluted bezel, white Roman dial and Jubilee are from the photograph. The 16233 or 116233 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.