rolex 16013 doubts

[Rafabond]

how do you see this 16013? everything is correct? The biggest question I have is that where it puts the reference 16013 above it should put “ORG. ROLEX DESIGN " and it doesn't put it. In the serial number it does say "Stainless steel". How do you see the bracelet? I think it's 14k. I put several photos.

[B E Austin]

My 16013 is exactly the same. no "Orig. Rolex Design". Mine is from 1985, What year is yours?

[Rafabond]

Originally Posted by B E Austin

My 16013 is exactly the same. no "Orig. Rolex Design". Mine is from 1985, What year is yours?

mine is from 1981

[tekno]

Where did you pick it up? Looks fine. Dail may be a little newer but it’s pretty common on Datejust.


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[Rafabond]

Originally Posted by tekno

Where did you pick it up? Looks fine. Dail may be a little newer but it’s pretty common on Datejust.


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It's from a family heirloom, and I'll probably keep it. Continuing with the watch, I guess from the bracelet code “B” it could be from 1977, at that time I think Rolex could put a bracelet older than the watch itself.

[tekno]

Close family?

I wouldn’t sell my fathers 86 Datejust… ever. It was worn/well used when I inherited it.




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[B E Austin]

[QUOTE=tekno;12873514] Where did you pick it up? Looks fine. Dail may be a little newer but it’s pretty common on Datejust.

So, you're saying the absence of "Orig. Rolex design" is common on the Datejust model? Any particular year range?

[tekno]

[QUOTE=B E Austin;12873578]

Originally Posted by tekno

Where did you pick it up? Looks fine. Dail may be a little newer but it’s pretty common on Datejust.

So, you're saying the absence of "Orig. Rolex design" is common on the Datejust model? Any particular year range?

Your watch is 100%

Google “1977 Rolex Datejust”


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[Dan S]

I have typically seen T SWISS T for the early 5-digit DJs, and T SWISS MADE T starting in the second half of the 80s. So I would guess that the dial is a replacement. Commonly done, and not an issue for most people.

Originally Posted by B E Austin

So, you're saying the absence of "Orig. Rolex design" is common on the Datejust model? Any particular year range?

IIRC, I believe the switch was in the early 1980s, to coincide with the expiration of a patent? Before that it said REGISTERED DESIGN. The OP watch, from about 1980, would be near the transition. I can't tell what was engraved because of the end-link wear.

[B E Austin]

Originally Posted by Dan S

I have typically seen T SWISS T for the early 5-digit DJs, and T SWISS MADE T starting in the second half of the 80s. So I would guess that the dial is a replacement. Commonly done, and not an issue for most people.



IIRC, I believe the switch was in the early 1980s, to coincide with the expiration of a patent? Before that it said REGISTERED DESIGN. The OP watch, from about 1980, would be near the transition. I can't tell what was engraved because of the end-link wear.

Mine is an '85 DJ. How does that fall into this transiton period?

[tekno]

Dan will know better.

I can only report what I have seen. I’ve really gone down the rabbit hole. As Dan said the switch from T Swiss T happened early/mid 80’s I “think” either would be correct on a 85. Ive seen both in 85/86’s, in the last 2 months ive looked at 100 or so mid 80’s watches on the net that are claimed to be “unpolished” or “box and papers”. Obviously that doesn’t mean much. I just was taking note of what was most common.

I’ve been in the abyss recently looking at logo dial middle eastern Datejust. The dials weren’t desirable when these watches were new, many were given to as gifts to people that didn’t want to display they got a Rolex from saudi, Oman, Qatar etc etc. The dials were swapped for standard dials, now you see later watches appearing with earlier logo dials.

I’ve pretty much given up. Unless the watch has papers/box from Said country I’m assuming the dial may be transplanted.

For my personal 86 I’m going to eventually try to put a T Swiss T stick marker logo dial in it with the because I know it is from roughly the right era.

[B E Austin]

Originally Posted by tekno

Dan will know better.

I can only report what I have seen. I’ve really gone down the rabbit hole. As Dan said the switch from T Swiss T happened early 80’s I think either would be correct on a 85. Ive seen both in 85/86’s, in the last 2 months ive looked at 100 or so mid 80’s watches on the net that are claimed to be “unpolished” or “box and papers”

I’ve been in the abyss recently looking at logo dial middle eastern Datejust. The dials weren’t desirable when these watches were new, many were given to as gifts to people that didn’t want to display they got a Rolex from saudi, Oman, Qatar etc etc. The dials were swapped for standard dials, now you see later watches appearing with earlier logo dials.

I’ve pretty much given up. Unless the watch has papers/box from Said country I’m assuming the dial may be transplanted.

For my personal 86 I’m going to eventually try to put a T Swiss T stick marker logo dial in it with the because I know it is from roughly the right era.

I was referring to the lack of "Orig. Rolex Design" on my '85 DJ

[tekno]

What’s SN?


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[B E Austin]

[QUOTE=tekno;12873780]What’s SN?

#8877051

[Dan S]

Originally Posted by B E Austin

Mine is an '85 DJ. How does that fall into this transiton period?

1985 (8.8M) should definitely have the Orig Rolex Design, IMO. Perhaps it is just obscured by end-link wear. Here's one that passed through my hands earlier this year.

[Rafabond]

so I can rest assured that it is all original?

[Dan S]

Originally Posted by Rafabond

so I can rest assured that it is all original?

Apologies, this thread has become confusing because @B E Austin hi-jacked it to ask about another watch.

Regarding the OP watch, as mentioned a few times already, the dial is probably not "original," IMO. But it looks authentic and it's a nice dial.

[B E Austin]

My apologies. I didn't mean to confuse the topic.

[Rafabond]

thank you all, i think it looks good on me

[TuRo]

Yes all good in the 2 years between REGISTERED DESIGN falling foul of being able to be re-registered and the non-patented ORIG. ROLEX DESIGN being adopted.

Btw STAINLESS STEEL was also also dropped for a few years too on the south lug for a few years in 60s on ROLEX and TUDOR.