Datejust 16013 14k or 18k?

[BP80]

Hello guys and gals,

First post here, and I really hope you can answer this difficult question. I searched the forum about it but can't really get the right answer.

I recently purchased a 1982-1983 two tone Datejust 16013, only the head without the TT bracelet. I'm about to buy a 62523H bracelet and I'm not sure if I should look for one with 14k or 18k center links.

My watch serialnumber is 80177xx, does anyone know exactly when Rolex changed the bezel end crown from 14k to 18k? I know it's somewhere around the time my watch was made.

So, does anyone know if the bezel and crown of my 16013 is 14k or 18k?

And another question, is there much difference in color between 14k and 18k gold on datejust's? Would it really matter if I buy the "wrong" carat? Would the bezel and crown be way off from the bracelet's gold or would it be hardly noticible?

BIG thanks in advance from Sweden!
//Jens

[JJ Irani]

Originally Posted by BP80

Hello guys and gals,

First post here, and I really hope you can answer this difficult question. I searched the forum about it but can't really get the right answer.

I recently purchased a 1982-1983 two tone Datejust 16013, only the head without the TT bracelet. I'm about to buy a 62523H bracelet and I'm not sure if I should look for one with 14k or 18k center links.

My watch serialnumber is 80177xx, does anyone know exactly when Rolex changed the bezel end crown from 14k to 18k? I know it's somewhere around the time my watch was made.

So, does anyone know if the bezel and crown of my 16013 is 14k or 18k?

And another question, is there much difference in color between 14k and 18k gold on datejust's? Would it really matter if I buy the "wrong" carat? Would the bezel and crown be way off from the bracelet's gold or would it be hardly noticible?

BIG thanks in advance from Sweden!
//Jens

Hi Jens,

Welcome to TRF.

That's a very good point you've raised............please allow me to explain.

My very first Rolex was purchased in Oct. 1980 - a TT DJ 16013 on the Jubilee bracelet......serial no. 6308XXX.

On the bracelet clasp, next to the part no. was marked D14 which means that was a 14K gold model with an acrylic crystal.

Just later, Rolex decided to go 18K gold with all their TT models and put in sapphire crystals instead of the acrylic ones.

Does yours have a sapphire crystal and do you have a D18 mark near the bracelet part no.? If so, then it's 18K gold.

JJ

[skywag]

Originally Posted by JJ Irani

Hi Jens,

My very first Rolex was purchased in Oct. 1980 - a TT DJ 16013 on the Jubilee bracelet......serial no. 6308XXX.

JJ

What happened to THAT Rolex? Did you wear it out?


Karl

[BP80]

Thanks JJ!

The problem is I don't have the original TT bracelet to look at, I bought only the "head". The crystal is acrylic, but there are both 14k and 18k acrylic 16013's out there.

[sakuraba]

I believe the case of precious metal references should also have hallmarks.

IIRC they should be around the base of the lugs.

[jdc]

take it to your local Rolex AD, they will ring Rolex and advise and give you a cost

[BP80]

No need for an AD. Lucky me, I bumped in to friend and his sister today, his sister had a newer TT datejust with 18k gold in bracelet, crown and bezel. Compared the two watches closely. The color was exactly like mine.

So mine is 18k for sure, now I just need to find a nice bracelet

[drtooth73]

1601 is 14K, newer is 18k

[BP80]

Originally Posted by drtooth73

1601 is 14K, newer is 18k

16013 can be both. Earlier ones 14k, newer ones 18k. Mine is from around the time Rolex changed from 14k to 18k so it was hard to tell without the TT bracelet or another gold Rolex to compare it with.

But finally I did compare it with a newer TT Datejust, and if the color difference is significant between 14k/18k then my case is closed, they matched perfectly in my eyes and I don't need glasses.

The final answer remains unclear, but we can be sure they changed it around 82-84, probably by late 7- or early 8-million serials. Maybe in steps for different markets, who knows?

[JJ Irani]

Originally Posted by BP80

The final answer remains unclear, but we can be sure they changed it around 82-84, probably by late 7- or early 8-million serials. Maybe in steps for different markets, who knows?

Possibly.............and that's when they changed the model no. from 16013 to 16233............which, of course, were all 18K with sapphire crystals only.

JJ

[PJS500]

I have an old TT DJ from 1980 (14K) and a new TT DY with 18K. It is hard to tell the difference except that the old DJ has been heavily polished after 30 years of daily wear. My wife fell and broke the band on her 14K TT DJ. We replaced the band and the crown with 18K parts ordered from Rolex and installed by the AD. It looks great and you can't tell that the fluted bezel is 14 and the rest is 18.

[slcbbrown]

I've had both 14k and 18k in watches and jubilee bracelets. The color difference is not noticeable on the watch head, but I think I can see the difference on the bracelets because there is so much more gold showing.

[Rolex2]

I just bought a '79 (from serial no.) 1505 Date with a jubilee band that looks to be 60s--oval links, old back and logo which says Rolex, 14K trim, USA on it. Looks legit.
The bezel is supposed to be 18K, but I see no indicator marks. I swear the bezel gold is a bit darker than the band gold, but I could be fooled. The crown and bezel gold look the same.
This watch has little raised gold blocks as hour indicators I've seen in other old Rolexes. They are angled inward radially like prisms: the effect is they sparkle ruby red in reflected light. Quite a nice effect.
Sorry I don't have pics yet. I will post shortly in vintage Rolexes.

I guess my question is how do I determine whether the bezel is 14k or 18k?

[dricig]

My 1601 from 1986 SN 92730XX is 18k.
The watch has an acrylic crystal and the original jubilee band clasp is marked 62523-H.18
The green/white tag from the box reads ;

ROLEX
style R160133
STEEL, 18KT GOLD

I hope this helps
dave

[vvlf]

Wow, I hate to revive an old thread, but this forum is AWESOME!

I inherited a 16013 and literally had no idea what I had. Foolishly I almost sold the watch on the premise of it being a 16233 (dumb I know).
Because of this forum I know the correct model of my watch, where to find that model # to prove it, where to find the serial number, and where to findout if its 14k or 18k model.
Im sure I still have alot to learn, but the help and info everyone has provided here at this forum has been nothing short of Invaluable!

Though I have to ask, when posting pictures, why do some people blur part of their serial number ? Is it so nobody copies that number and puts it on a fake ?

Thanks everybody!