Datejust 16220 sapphire or acrylic

[Jphaphol]

Hello, I recently purchased a 16220 but don't know the year it was made. Are all 16220 sapphire crystal or are some acrylic?

[CTech]

As far as I know, all the 5 digit model number Rolex watches have a sapphire crystal so all the 16220 production from 1989 to 1996 will have sapphire crystals.

If you want to get a better estimate of the age of the watch you will need to have the serial number, either from any papers you have or by removing the bracelet and looking between the lugs.

[Dan S]

Originally Posted by CTech

As far as I know, all the 5 digit model number Rolex watches have a sapphire crystal so all the 16220 production from 1989 to 1996 will have sapphire crystals.

I believe you're right about the 162XX DJs, but obviously the 160XX DJs are acrylic, so we can't generalize about all 5-digit references. Not to mention 16750, and probably others.

[L.K Johnson]

This thread needs a pic of my 16013 on acrylic!

First pic is together with his buddy, the OQ 17014 on sapphire…

[CTech]

Originally Posted by Dan S

... the 160XX DJs are acrylic, so we can't generalize about all 5-digit references. Not to mention 16750, and probably others.

Of course you are right, Dan, and I misspoke.

I think what I was trying to say was that the new 5 digit references introduced from about 1984 onwards all had synthetic sapphire crystals, but then that needs more clarification about why some of the (earlier) 5 digit models (eg 16750) do not conform to that pattern whereas others do (eg 16760).

As with most things to do with Rolex, generalizations aren't appropriate as nothing is as simple or logical as we would wish it to be.

Thanks for the clarification and I'll try to do better in future.

[Fredrik]

There are 4 digit references with sapphire too, the 1530 and 1630.

[L.K Johnson]

Originally Posted by Fredrik

There are 4 digit references with sapphire too, the 1530 and 1630.

Never thought of that! True, now that you mention it!

[onetwo127]

Thanks for the information, my first Rolex was a Datejust from the early eighties. Acrylic crystal.

[karleone]

Originally Posted by Jphaphol

Hello, I recently purchased a 16220 but don't know the year it was made. Are all 16220 sapphire crystal or are some acrylic?

All 16220 are saphire