Values & guides
The two-tone Rolesor Datejust 36 in its most traditional form — fluted yellow gold bezel, champagne Roman dial, and Jubilee bracelet.
The 116233 is Rolex's 36mm Datejust built to the two-tone Rolesor specification — stainless steel case and outer bracelet links paired with an 18k yellow gold fluted bezel, yellow gold crown, and yellow gold center links on the Jubilee. Production of this reference ran from the early 2000s through approximately 2016, when Rolex updated the Datejust 36 lineup and introduced the 126233 designation. The movement inside is the caliber 3135, Rolex's principal self-winding manufacture caliber, rated to COSC chronometer standard and offering approximately 48 hours of power reserve. Examples from around 2006 onward received Rolex's Parachrom hairspring, a proprietary paramagnetic alloy that improves resistance to temperature variation and magnetic shock. The case diameter of 36mm prevailed as the Datejust standard for decades and has returned to favor on the secondary market as collector preferences have drifted back from the larger case sizes that defined the mid-2000s.
Rolesor is Rolex's registered term for the combination of Oystersteel and 18k gold on a single watch — a format the brand has produced continuously since the 1930s. On the 116233, the yellow gold appears on the fluted bezel, the winding crown, and the center links of the five-piece Jubilee bracelet; the case, outer links, and clasp are stainless steel. The critical detail is that the fluted bezel is machined from solid 18k yellow gold, not plated — it develops a natural patina at high contact points over time rather than chipping or flaking through a plating layer. The Jubilee bracelet, introduced alongside the original Datejust in 1945, is generally considered the more dress-oriented of the two standard bracelet choices for this model and is the period-appropriate configuration for a fluted-bezel Datejust.
The champagne dial with Roman numeral hour markers is one of the more formally inclined options available in the 116233 lineup. The hour markers are applied — raised metal numerals rather than printed — which gives them visible depth and a more finished presence under varied lighting. The champagne tone, a warm pale gold, coordinates naturally with the yellow gold metalwork and creates a coherent aesthetic rather than a contrasting combination. This configuration has held consistent appeal on the secondary market: traditional without reading as dated, and capable of moving between business dress and casual wear without effort. The fluted bezel, champagne dial, and Jubilee bracelet together constitute what most collectors consider the canonical Datejust presentation.
This piece is offered in used condition without the original box or papers. On the pre-owned Rolex market, a complete set — watch, box, and warranty card — commands a measurable premium, and that gap is more pronounced for out-of-production references where no future factory documentation can be generated. Without papers, physical condition and service history become the primary evaluation criteria. Buyers should confirm whether the caliber 3135 has been serviced, as Rolex recommends approximately ten-year intervals; the movement is durable but not indefinitely self-maintaining. On the bracelet, check the Jubilee center links for stretch and the gold link edges for wear — cosmetically normal in a used example but worth assessing for severity. Pre-owned 116233 examples without box and papers generally trade in the mid-to-upper thousands on the open market, a range that varies with dial originality, bracelet condition, and degree of case finishing. The 116233 is fully out of production and will not be reissued, a fixed ceiling on supply that tends to underpin steady demand among buyers who specifically prefer the 36mm Datejust format.
Sold through My Watch Dealer, our retail desk — full details, current price and purchase all happen there.
View this piece at My Watch Dealer ›