Datejust the 15 year review......

[elkaholic]

I have the same watch as pictured in this great review, the only difference is mine has a gold dial. It is a timeless classic, very comfortable and still gets compliments today, even with the new trend of larger watches everywhere. Mine remains very comfortable even with all the years of stretch that tend to build up on the jubilee band.

[bunt]

i love how this post itself is now 10 years old, and it keeps re-appearing. it's be really cool if RogerF would sign on again and give us an update on his DJ now that it has hit 25 years old!

[AkshayArgade]

Originally Posted by bunt

i love how this post itself is now 10 years old, and it keeps re-appearing. it's be really cool if RogerF would sign on again and give us an update on his DJ now that it has hit 25 years old!

I agree. 25 years is quite something. Would like to see photos

[Sartana]

The same movement in the yacht master?!? I had no idea

[Bfd70]

I like that in 2005 he suggested that in 15 years a $4700 sea dweller won't seem expensive. Took less than 10 for that to be a great deal.

[Ace2Rolex]

I started wearing 1970's DJ which had never been serviced until I brought it in 38 years after it first started ticking. When the watchmaster informed me that she was still running perfectly I was astounded. The watch quickly became my go to wear for weekend work in the yard.

I then purchased a TT TOG with the green second hand and immediately fell in love with it. My poor SubC didn't see my wrist for a month.

Long story short, I recently sold my SubC and picked up a new DJ with silver dial. Smaller than the sub but just as resilient, I have fallen in love with DJs. I have a small wrist, and the size and weight of the DJ are perfect, unlike the new Subs which I feel are a bit heavy/boxy and cut into the lower portion of my wrist.

The Sub was the first Rolex I ever purchased and at the time, not only was I in love with it, but I felt that the DJ was a bit of a joke. I was so wrong ;)

[Floorguy]

Every once in a while, I consider flipping mine, then I realize this is "THE ONE"

[RogerF]

I'm back. Yes I still have the watch. I'll give you all an update in a few weeks. I'm about to go on vacation and explore with my new Explorer hehehe

[Nadim]

Great review its all i needed to make me decide to get my datejust ||

[Delawareguy]

I have the same watch, (but in stainless) that I purchased new in 1985.... Pretty much only wear it when I wear a suit now (which isn't very often) but I wore it hard, daily, for more than ten years. I have corrosion issues with this watch now, which has me struggling with what to do about it, but all in all, it's a great and classic watch.

[mechanicaltime]

I also have a 16233 but with a gold face and sticks. I bought it in 1989 and have worn it daily til last year when I bought a SubC. The 16233 has been a fantastic watch. Beautiful, classic and durable.

[ShashikeJaywalking]

I'd love to see what it looks like now! Here's mine

[Trurolexer]

Thanks for sharing

[monsters]

Just jumped for my first Rolex, a DJ1 this week. Should be incoming tomorrow! Reviews like this make me excited for what is hopefully many years of enjoyment to come

[Professorfingers]

Originally Posted by monsters

Just jumped for my first Rolex, a DJ1 this week. Should be incoming tomorrow! Reviews like this make me excited for what is hopefully many years of enjoyment to come

If you don't mind me asking, why didn't you go with a DJII? A lot of what I read is the larger size is what everyone is going for. Myself, I haven;t decided yet.

[douma]

I will get one when I save enough.

[idle spectre]

Nice

[Newrolex1234]

Great review! Good to hear these are built like a tank. I wish these came in a 38" but still a great watch.

[wagoneer]

My first and favorite always Rolex, given to me by my farther, and I will pass it along to my children, excellent piece should last at least 4 generations.

[the_natural]

Originally Posted by Bfd70

I like that in 2005 he suggested that in 15 years a $4700 sea dweller won't seem expensive. Took less than 10 for that to be a great deal.

Seriously. I read that and then felt a little sick.

I don't understand all of these TRF folks who are like "No, they don't appreciate." Yeah maybe not in the first few years, but the trend (at least for many of the sport models) doesn't agree with that sentiment.

[pashuta22]

Thanks for a great review

[Chris]

Originally Posted by RogerF

well sort of.



This example of a 16233 is from 1990, a E Serial. This watch spent the first 5 years of its life pretty much in a safe only worn for special occasions as I was too young at the time. My family already knew then what I learned later on in my watch collecting career which is that a Rolex will always be worth its weight in gold (not literally of course, but it will always hold its value at the very least) I see it more and more now that parents are buying fine timepieces to give to their kids when they get older and I believe I will do the same one day when I have a child. Afterall 15-20 years from now after 15-20 price hikes a $4700 Sea Dweller today won't seem so expensive right?


Now this watch started getting some real wrist time about 10 years ago and it has been to hell and back. The watch saw a lot of extracurricular activities that would have been the death of other makes. It has hit brack walls while doing garden work, it has hit exhaust pipes, fallen from top shelves onto tile and concrete, it was basically put through the torture tests you see on tv for timex and glad garbage bags The only thing that the watch has had to visit Rolex for other than for regular scheduled maintenance is for a crystal when I hit the edge on a door. Other than that it has been one tough SOB.


Now on to the watch itself (and not my clumsiness)

Movement:

The movement is the bread and butter movement from Rolex the 3135. It is the date movement found in many watches in Rolex's stable such as current DJs, Submariner, Yacht Master, and Sea Dweller. I can pretty much say it is the most shock proof movement I have ever owned since I put my watches through a lot in my day to day life.


Case/Bracelet/Dial:

The case is your typical oyster, water resistant to 100m or 330ft. The caseback and crown is of the screw down type (pretty much standard these days for watches that are water resistant)

The bracelet on this model is the jubilee one in SS and 18k YG. I cant say that this watch scratches easily (something that ppl say happens to the gold portion) since the scratches are all my fault I cant really blame the design or material used for the signs of typical daily wear. Some complain about this bracelet design being noisey, but I dont find that the case and it has never been an issue with me.

The stick marker dial is again another classic trait of the DJ line, clean and simple to read with no BS. However I am also a fan of the Romans and would pick either one if I were to buy this watch again.
The only issue I have had with this watch and dial is that its difficult to read in the dark as the luminous dots on the ends of the stick markers have pretty much had their day. Even though the lume is gone on this dial I still prefer it over the 116233 dial with the big lume markers as I feel the new ones are too sport watch like for the DJ.

Design:

What can I say the 16233 (and now 116233) is THE watch in Rolex's lineup that screams the company name. The Jub bracelet coupled with the fluted gold bezel in Two Tone has become an icon in Asian countries ( and many others) as being the watch to have once you have "arrived" (if you dont believe me go visit HK LOL ) The design is classic, and with the DJ line having so many dial choices overall its hard not to be able to find something you like in this series.

The TT models are a little dressier than their SS siblings but I have not found a reason as to why it cannot be worn with casual attire, just like a Sub and SD can be worn with a tux.


Overall I give this watch 9/10

Hi roger do you still own this watch? How about a 30yr review. I have recently bought a 16233 from 1989, love the watch even thogh TT is currently out of vogue.

[Robine]

Looks much better with a silver dial than with a champagne one.

[GeoffEff]

Originally Posted by Chris

Hi roger do you still own this watch? How about a 30yr review. I have recently bought a 16233 from 1989, love the watch even thogh TT is currently out of vogue.

A 30 year review would be great to read. Love seeing the life of these pieces.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[kevinjb]

thanks for these reviews !!

[bestert]

My brother has the same!

[watchgirl2022]

Just acquired a 16234 but a 16233 is definitely on my want list. Such a classic

[jamesbondOO7]

Tuxedo dial and roulette date wheel

[brandrea]

As relevant today as it was back then

[Maxriley77]

I recently bought a Rolex model number 18038 and was wondering if the band number 8385 is the original as well if the band is made of solid 18 karat gold. I paid roughly 12,500 and was wondering if I paid too much?