Problem on datejust identity

[rohada]

This thread is pure gold. A keeper, for sure. Thanks to all the participants.

[KatGirl]

That’s a nice looking 36 mm Datejust! Start wearing it….
Can we see a wrist shot?

Kat


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[DUNKS]

Thanks all I can now advertise my watch as a datejust with confidence. BUT where do you take the measurement of a Rolex case from? I have read that on a round watch it is from the case side to opposite case side not counting the winder! I have spent half my adult life in engineering and can certainly read a calliper. My watch taken across the case and not counting the winder is 34mm. No way can it be stretched any further. Your thoughts please.

[Old Expat Beast]

I'm just going to shift this thread over to the vintage section (with a redirect so it doesn't get lost) as you'll get a fresh set of opinions and comments over there. It's got to be 36mm though.

[Dan S]

Strange thread, feels a bit like we are being trolled, TBH. But hopefully this is a serious question and we're not wasting our time.

As noted many times already, the DJ reference that the OP indicated is 36mm, which would be the measurement on the outside of the case from 2 o'clock to 8 o'clock, for example. If that measurement is truly 34mm instead of 36mm, then the watch has been modified or it is a fake.

As a cross-check, the width between the lugs should be 20mm (whereas it is 19mm for a 34mm case).

[winst]

Originally Posted by Dan S

Strange thread, feels a bit like we are being trolled, TBH. But hopefully this is a serious question and we're not wasting our time.

As noted many times already, the DJ reference that the OP indicated is 36mm, which would be the measurement on the outside of the case from 2 o'clock to 8 o'clock, for example. If that measurement is truly 34mm instead of 36mm, then the watch has been modified or it is a fake.

As a cross-check, the width between the lugs should be 20mm (whereas it is 19mm for a 34mm case).

Good shout on the lug width.

[Johny]

Originally Posted by DUNKS

Thanks. The original guarantee Is in French where the watch was bought by someone living in the UK. The story told to me by the seller " a Rolex dealer in the UK" Now dead. Was that the watch was bought new and put into a collection. Not wound or worn for many many years, then sold to the dealer. The watch did not run well and was serviced and sold to me around four years ago. I now intend to sell it on and buy a similar or 36mm two tone Datejust. These seem to be a very good deal now here!

The model number on my watch is ---16220 ref is X929586 Pricked into the guarantee is GARANTIE 160 with Chronometre in print.
My local Jeweller has confirmed it is a 34mm case.

I think that 160 is English country code.

[TuRo]

Yes 160 is a UK designation.

[carwashchris]

Originally Posted by Sgooter

FWIW...I've never seen a 34mm DATEJUST.

X 10

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[KatGirl]

OP, a wrist shot, along with the size of your wrist, would be helpful. We can tell a lot from pics.

Kat


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[offrdmania]

OP argues with some of the most knowledgeable watch minds in the world in order to back up his local jeweler who didnt reference the model number to begin with, which would have given so much information about the watch but instead measures the case and swears up and down that its 34mm <FacePalm> again

[omar-rye]

Originally Posted by DUNKS

Thanks all I can now advertise my watch as a datejust with confidence. BUT where do you take the measurement of a Rolex case from? I have read that on a round watch it is from the case side to opposite case side not counting the winder! I have spent half my adult life in engineering and can certainly read a calliper. My watch taken across the case and not counting the winder is 34mm. No way can it be stretched any further. Your thoughts please.

Don't ask why, but a Rolex case size is always smaller than what Rolex advertises. Some of us assume that Rolex measures their cases from 2 o'clock to 8 o'clock instead of 3 o'clock to 9 o'clock.

I took two photos to illustrate what I mean. This is the Datejust 41(mm)

[Dan S]

Originally Posted by omar-rye

Don't ask why, but a Rolex case size is always smaller than what Rolex advertises. Some of us assume that Rolex measures their cases from 2 o'clock to 8 o'clock instead of 3 o'clock to 9 o'clock.

I took two photos to illustrate what I mean. This is the Datejust 41(mm)

The way you have measured 39.2mm by placing the calipers above the crown and measuring horizontally is obviously not going to give an accurate measurement of the diameter. You need to measure the length of a line that crosses the center of the circle.

[omar-rye]

Originally Posted by Dan S

The way you have measured 39.2mm by placing the calipers above the crown and measuring horizontally is obviously not going to give an accurate measurement of the diameter. You need to measure the length of a line that crosses the center of the circle.

3 to 9

[zapokee]

Glad the feathers got unruffled.

This is a place where experts offer free advice out of a passion for the hobby. It's a truly awesome community.

[Watch-Geek]

Originally Posted by omar-rye

Don't ask why, but a Rolex case size is always smaller than what Rolex advertises. Some of us assume that Rolex measures their cases from 2 o'clock to 8 o'clock instead of 3 o'clock to 9 o'clock.



I took two photos to illustrate what I mean. This is the Datejust 41(mm)

^^^THIS!!

My Rolex Explorer 36 is actually 35mm
My 40mm Explorer II is actually 39mm
My Rolex Submariner 41 is actually 40,5mm

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[Dan S]

Originally Posted by omar-rye

3 to 9

I really don't think these minor differences are the source of the OP's confusion. We are nit-picking fractions of a mm here, which is not what the OP is talking about. And he is not talking about a 40mm DJ, but a 36mm DJ. The DJ reference he's talking about is undoubtedly a 36mm watch, not 34mm. Maybe someone might measure it to be 35.8mm, but not close to 34mm.

However, if you want to measure the case accurately, that's not really how to do it. First, it looks like the right side of the calipers is not in contact with the widest part of the case, which is farther down. The mid-case has a curved profile, so the jaws need to go squarely across the full width of the case, not the bezel, not a narrower part of the case. Second, if the right side is above three (e.g. 14 minutes mark), the left side must be below nine (e.g. 44 minutes mark) to measure across the diameter. I'm not saying that the case is exactly 40mm, but the way you are measuring it (14 minutes to 46 minutes) is going to give a smaller number, because you are measuring a chord of the circle, not the diameter.

[alwayshere]

TBH, what a waste of time this thread was.

I know you won't care OP but:

1) measure the watch yourself and you would know it was wider than 34mm. This thread could have been saved

2) we are trying to help but man, your first few messages sounded like you were doing us a favour. Come on now.

Besides that, glad you sorted it out.

[Ronburn]

Hi All,

I'm a literal 5 minute newbie on here. I joined the Rolex Forum for the exact same reason that the OP of this thread posted back in November. Here is my quandary (photos attached below):
I have owned one of my father's old Rolex watches since the early 1980's
I have no paperwork but have asked my mom to check to see if she does
The serial number would suggest that it was manufactured in or around 1970
My grandparents purchased it for him in Switzerland at around that time
It is a two-tone (gold/stainless) with gold fluted bezel
It has a gold/stainless Jubilee band
The dial reads "OYSTER PERPETUAL DATEJUST"
HOWEVER...the case is 34mm. Yes, I measured it properly across the diameter.
Lugs are 20mm
The model number is not visible on the case under the words "Registered Design"
I have a loop coming to attempt to determine the model number if possible.
One Rolex expert told me he believes there WAS a 34mm Datejust (not Date)
He also said that a 36mm "DATEJUST" dial would not fit in a 34mm "DATE"
So, is the dial an aftermarket? I don't think so. What is the answer. Certainly a model number would help.
I have attached a bunch of photos. Would love to re-visit this original post subject to see what I can determine. As soon as I have the jeweler's loop, I will post whether or not I can ascertain a model. Thanks for any advice or knowledge.

[crowncollection]

Open the caseback it will have a reference in it


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[Ronburn]

Yeah, I thought about that too. I figured I will wait until I get my loop delivered today and see if that helps determine the model number from the case between the 12 o'clock lugs. I just don’t have a tool to open the back of the case so I might have to take it to someone.

[adiorandomhero93]

Originally Posted by Ronburn

Hi All,

I'm a literal 5 minute newbie on here. I joined the Rolex Forum for the exact same reason that the OP of this thread posted back in November. Here is my quandary (photos attached below):
I have owned one of my father's old Rolex watches since the early 1980's
I have no paperwork but have asked my mom to check to see if she does
The serial number would suggest that it was manufactured in or around 1970
My grandparents purchased it for him in Switzerland at around that time
It is a two-tone (gold/stainless) with gold fluted bezel
It has a gold/stainless Jubilee band
The dial reads "OYSTER PERPETUAL DATEJUST"
HOWEVER...the case is 34mm. Yes, I measured it properly across the diameter.
Lugs are 20mm
The model number is not visible on the case under the words "Registered Design"
I have a loop coming to attempt to determine the model number if possible.
One Rolex expert told me he believes there WAS a 34mm Datejust (not Date)
He also said that a 36mm "DATEJUST" dial would not fit in a 34mm "DATE"
So, is the dial an aftermarket? I don't think so. What is the answer. Certainly a model number would help.
I have attached a bunch of photos. Would love to re-visit this original post subject to see what I can determine. As soon as I have the jeweler's loop, I will post whether or not I can ascertain a model. Thanks for any advice or knowledge.

Looks like a 1601 datejust to me

Very polished, maybe 2mm came off?

[TuRo]

Welcome Ronburn, 34mm are usually 19mm lugs (except a few eg Tudor 'Oysterdate 34mm' that are 20mm).

Can you expand/macro the camera on you phone to x 8 or x 10 and face outside light and you should be able to read the 4 digit model number on the south lug as you can the serial number. A tape measure is not really any good btw you need calipers of some sort to measure to +/- mm....

Its quite polished but I think a standard Datejust as per previous response and the original OP's ....

[Tools]

We get the measuring discussions all of the time without anybody beind satisfied.

Watch sizes are seldom the measurement, but the nominal size of the diameter of a circle that could be scribed from its center to the outer edge of that circle.

Measuring is going to be different around the case due to the machine work, contours, and over time, removal of refinishing material.

Size 9 shoes are going to be different from different manufacturers, 36mm watches are going to be different as well.

[adiorandomhero93]

Maybe I'm incorrect, which is highly possible but...I have never seen a pie pan dial on a non 36mm Rolex watch

[alwayshere]

Originally Posted by Ronburn

Hi All,

I'm a literal 5 minute newbie on here. I joined the Rolex Forum for the exact same reason that the OP of this thread posted back in November. Here is my quandary (photos attached below):
I have owned one of my father's old Rolex watches since the early 1980's
I have no paperwork but have asked my mom to check to see if she does
The serial number would suggest that it was manufactured in or around 1970
My grandparents purchased it for him in Switzerland at around that time
It is a two-tone (gold/stainless) with gold fluted bezel
It has a gold/stainless Jubilee band
The dial reads "OYSTER PERPETUAL DATEJUST"
HOWEVER...the case is 34mm. Yes, I measured it properly across the diameter.
Lugs are 20mm
The model number is not visible on the case under the words "Registered Design"
I have a loop coming to attempt to determine the model number if possible.
One Rolex expert told me he believes there WAS a 34mm Datejust (not Date)
He also said that a 36mm "DATEJUST" dial would not fit in a 34mm "DATE"
So, is the dial an aftermarket? I don't think so. What is the answer. Certainly a model number would help.
I have attached a bunch of photos. Would love to re-visit this original post subject to see what I can determine. As soon as I have the jeweler's loop, I will post whether or not I can ascertain a model. Thanks for any advice or knowledge.

Very heavily polished case. In your last picture, you can see the lug holes now appearing on the upper side of the lug...

And yes, thats definitely a datejust and not a modified "date" case.

[Ronburn]

Thanks so much to all you for responding. Sorry I went dark for a few days. I actually got sick on Sat night and was laid up for a couple of days.

Yes!!! All of you were correct. I guess I was a little overzealous on Friday when I sent out my initial comment and photos on this thread. I do have a 36mm Datejust. And, yes, it has lost a half to a full mm diameter from just age and wear.

I received my loop on Friday night and even with it, I couldn't discern any numbers on the case exterior. Saturday, I took it to a local jeweler to see if he could make out anything but the watch was just too worn and pitted at that exact spot. He did use his calipers to measure and it came up at around 35mm. The lugs are 20mm and the overall length from lug tip to lug tip (6 to 12) is 43.0. Clearly, it is a weathered Datejust which explains everything.

We didn't open it up to see what we can on the inside but his guess was that it is a 1601 or 1603 from 1968 (although using the serial number, there are some websites that would say it is a 1970). Close enough. Not sure what that two year discrepancy stems from where some websites claim that the serial number is 1968 and others claim that it is 1970 but I have also learned that there are variations on that as well.

Bottom line is that the watch works well and if it ain't broke, don't fix it, right? All I need to do now is remember where the hell I put the Jubilee stainless and gold band and get it back on the watch because a black leather band just looks to formal for everyday wear.

Thanks again y'all.

[Ronburn]

thanks

[Ronburn]

thank you