help needed: Datejust 16014 verification

[brand_c]

Hope you guys are having a good weekend.

Am interested to make a deal on a DJ 16014 but have some questions regarding it. I've attached photos of the item.

1. The minute track on the outermost area of the dial seems different from most 16014s I've seen online. Is it legit? I know DJs come with a million dial variations but I just want to be sure.

2. The lume on the hands seem to be 'creamier' than the lume plots of the dial? Is this common?

3. The '2' on the date wheel seems a bit off...its bigger than the 5.

Thoughts on these matters would be appreciated. Thanks guys/gals.

[Richard Carver]

Very nice watch. Fat case and zero corrosion, bracelet looks good too. I would call it a repaint based on those crappy pics. The Rolex font, spacing and the outer track do not look right.

A repaint isn't the end of the world, an original dial is relatively inexpensive but I know the cool kids need a safe space at the thought of changing anything. Try to get over that. The originality fetish is based on inexperience and fear. Changing the dial on a Rolex is a 100 year old tradition. :)

Try to get the seller to make a concession on a new dial and be happy to own such a beautiful watch.

[brand_c]

Originally Posted by Richard Carver

Very nice watch. Fat case and zero corrosion, bracelet looks good too. I would call it a repaint based on those crappy pics. The Rolex font, spacing and the outer track do not look right.

A repaint isn't the end of the world, an original dial is relatively inexpensive but I know the cool kids need a safe space at the thought of changing anything. Try to get over that. The originality fetish is based on inexperience and fear. Changing the dial on a Rolex is a 100 year old tradition. :)

Try to get the seller to make a concession on a new dial and be happy to own such a beautiful watch.

Richard, thank you for your input. It looks pretty darn good but then again, the datejust font just throws me off. This one seems taller and the spacing seems a bit odd.

Wouldn't mind changing dials if I can find one.

Cheers!

[swish77]

I'm not convinced it's a refinished dial. Perhaps, but I'd want to see more close-ups, or better yet, under a loupe. Here's a comparison below with my late '80s DJ with an original dial and same minute markers.

Perhaps the dial on the OP's watch was changed at some point, and that's why the patina on the tritium hands is stronger, or maybe the hands just aged a little differently, which can happen too. Either way, it's quite easy to find nice original dials for these quickset DJs. The four-digit references are much harder.

[Richard Carver]

You never see the second hand extended over the track on Rolex dials, kissing it or in it but that's just a Rolex detail. On the OP dial the Datejust font appears larger than the Rolex font. Enough anomalies to make me question the dial without better pics.

https://www.google.com/search?q=role...ih=746#imgrc=_

[chessebj]

If that's a re-paint (which it might be, I also think the Datejust font is a bit too big, but I know older DJs better) it's a damned good one. The date wheel doesn't necessarily bother me, as the cyclops can do some weird distortions. What we need is a Macro that is truly centered and directly head-on.

[brand_c]

Will post a better pic if I get one from the seller. Thanks guys.