Datejust silver dials - are these the same?

[angelamwm]

Hi there

I’m hoping someone can lend their expertise to satisfy a query for me. I’m looking at buying a 36mm Datejust (silver dial, diamond markers, jubilee bracelet). The watch is no longer in production so I’m having to source secondhand.

I’ve found two good quality options, but the silver dials look slightly different to me! Can anyone please shed some light on whether they are actually different, or just appear so in the pics?

Pic one is the 2011 model and pic two is circa 2005. Both model numbers are th same and they are both described as a silver factory diamond dial by the sellers.

Thanks in advance!

[angelamwm]

I’ve just sourced a copy of the options for this model (116233) and it looks to me like the darker version might be a steel dial, rather than silver.

Love to hear what others think though! 😀

[schoolboy]

That’s a tough one. Why are you wondering if they are different? Are you afraid that one of them is aftermarket or something like that? If so, remember to buy the seller first.

Other than that, if you know both are authentic, pick the one that you like the best.

But it might also be the lighting in the pics.

Consider messaging the sellers and asking them for pics in different angles so that you can compare.

Anyway, my experience is that the names of the colors of the dial are kind of hard to work with...

When I was shopping for my datejust, a lady showed me a silver dial version.

I saw another one that looked darker and asked about it, and she said “that’s also silver, just that the light is hitting it differently.”

So I asked, “why are they both called silver if one is darker than the other?”

And she said that one is silver and the other dark silver, or something like that

Anyway, this was at an AD.

When I did my research, I learned that the darker one, which the lady called “dark silver” was actually a Rhodium dial!

[schoolboy]

Originally Posted by angelamwm

I’ve just sourced a copy of the options for this model (116233) and it looks to me like the darker version might be a steel dial, rather than silver.

^this is what I mean OP.

If you are certain that both watches are authentic, go for the color you prefer, don’t pick a watch because of the name of the dial.

Now we have silver dial vs steel dial.

Maybe one of the sellers just wrote the wrong name on the watch description or whatever no?

[schoolboy]

This is my last post, I promise haha

To me the top one looks like a rhodium dial, and the bottom like silver

But idk if both of those names “rhodium” and “silver” came with diamond markers

[angelamwm]

Thanks so much for your response! Rhodium did not come with diamond markers according to the reference sheet I have (only steel and silver).

I’ve contacted the sellers and asked for additional pics in natural light.

Appreciate your input!