16233 or 16013

[lazarus]

Hi! Is there any way for me to know which model my Datejust is without having to remove the bracelet? My dad just gave me his rolex and I'm just curious as to which model it is, and haven't had time to run to an RSC to have it checked out (because I do want it to be serviced too)

It's a 2 tone datejust with 18kt jellow gold and stainless steel jubilee bracelet, yellow gold fluted bezel and champagne dial with stick hour markers.

I've been doing some research and I think its a 16233, but I just came across another site and the 16013 looks extremely similar. Any way that I could tell between the two?

Please do let me know. Thanks!

[SPACE-DWELLER]

The 16233 has a sapphire crystal and has the movement Cal. 3135, and the 16013 has an acrylic crystal and the movement Cal. 3035. That's the difference

[BiG JeEzY]

Originally Posted by Spacedweller

The 16233 has a sapphire crystal and has the movement Cal. 3135, and the 16013 has an acrylic crystal and the movement Cal. 3035. That's the difference

What Bo had said is correct. Also just to add to this, if you cant tell if the crystal is sapphire or acrylic, the sapphire crystal is very reflective. It reflects light very easily and it is bright at that, kind of like a glare. As for the acrylic crystal, it has an anti-reflective coating on it so you can see light being reflected off the crystal but its not as bright.

[SPACE-DWELLER]

Originally Posted by BiG JeEzY

As for the acrylic crystal, it has an anti-reflective coating on it so you can see light being reflected off the crystal but its not as bright.

Sorry, but the acryllic crystal does NOT have any "antireflective coating". It wouldn't work at all on an acryllic crystal.

The reason why the acryllic crystal does not reflect as much as the sapphire crystal is:

1) Due to the material acryllic on its own, not being glass
2) Due to the fact that the acryllic crystal is CURVED, thus bendig light reflections away.

I would further like to add that the acryllic crystal has the advantage that it can be POLISHED (for example with the product "Polywatch") if it get scratches.

The sapphire crystal, however, can NOT be polished (or correction: Very tiny, superficial scratches CAN be polished with a very expensive DIAMOND paste). It should also be noted that sapphire crystal can be scratched by anything harder than "hardness coeffient 9" (a diamond has the hardness coefficient of 10). Also, it should be noted that the cyclops on the sapphire crystal is GLUED on (not integrated part of the rest of the crystal) AND is made of MINERAL glass and thus can be scratched much easier than the rest of the crystal.

[BiG JeEzY]

Originally Posted by Spacedweller

Sorry, but the acryllic crystal does NOT have any "antireflective coating". It wouldn't work at all on an acryllic crystal.

The reason why the acryllic crystal does not reflect like as much as the sapphire crystal is:

1) Due to the material acryllic on its own, not being glass
2) Due to the fact that the acryllic crystal is CURVED, thus bendig light reflections away.

I would further like to add that the acryllic crystal has the advantage that it can be POLISHED (for example with the product "Polywatch") if it get scratches.

The sapphire crystal, however, can NOT be polished (or correction: Very tiny, superficial scratches CAN be polished with a very expensive DIAMOND paste). It should also be noted that sapphire crystal can be scratched by anything harder than "hardness coeffient 9" (a diamond has the hardness coefficient of 10). Also, it should be noted that the cyclops on the sapphire crystal is GLUED on (not integrated part of the rest of the crystal) AND is made of MINERAL glass and thus can be scratched much easier than the rest of the crystal.

So anti reflective coatings are only applied to sapphire crystals. My apologies Bo, I thought that since the acrylic crystal reflected less light, it also had that AR coating on it as well. Thanks for your info.

[SPACE-DWELLER]

Originally Posted by BiG JeEzY

So anti reflective coatings are only applied to sapphire crystals. My apologies Bo, I thought that since the acrylic crystal reflected less light, it also had that AR coating on it as well. Thanks for your info.

No problemo!

BTW: ROLEX does NOT use AR coating on their sapphire crystal, either. But just recently, on the new GMT II models, there has been added an AR coating to the LOUPE (solely) making for a much clearer look.

Breitling, Omega and many other watch companies, however, use AR coating on the crystal almost without exception, and sometimes on BOTH the over- AND underside of the crystal, to boot

IMHO, AR coatings are a good feature, but then again have the DISadvantage that the coating can be scratched so that you get a nasty blemish on the crystal that you would see in almost any light.

[BiG JeEzY]

Originally Posted by Spacedweller

No problemo!

BTW: ROLEX does NOT use AR coating on their sapphire crystal, either. But just recently, on the new GMT II models, there has been added an AR coating to the LOUPE (solely) making for a much clearer look.

Breitling, Omega and many other watch companies, however, uses AR coating on the crystal almost without exception, and sometimes on BOTH the over- AND underside of the crystal, to boot

IMHO, AR coatings are a good feature, but then again have the DISadvantage that the coating can be scratched so that you get a nasty blemish on the crystal that you would see in almost any light.

Yes I have learned before that AR does scratch easily, thats why some brands do not apply it on the outside of the crystal. Im glad that none of my watches have the AR coatings on them actually, seeing a nasty blemish like that on the crystal would make me go crazy.


Cheers Bo! Im glad that I got this concept figured out.

[SPACE-DWELLER]

BTW:

Recently, I wanted to treat my self by buying a pair of Ray-Ban sunglasses. I looked at two different models:

1) One with polarized lenses and AR coating on the back
2) One with ordinary (brown like the other pair) glasses, no AR coating.

Wanting "the best", I opted for the polarized version.

But I simply couldn't stand that "bluish" shine on the inner side of the glass (due to the AR), and also I found that when I washed my sunglasses, the cotton tissue that I use to also dry my Rolex after having washed it, actually had some difficulty sliding easily over the back side of the glass due to that darned AR coating.

So I finally returned the sunglasses and had them exchanged to the other pair.

[jac67]

Originally Posted by Spacedweller

The 16233 has a sapphire crystal and has the movement Cal. 3135, and the 16013 has an acrylic crystal and the movement Cal. 3035. That's the difference

Spot on Bo.

I like your style, short, sweet and straight to the point. Well done.


John.

[lazarus]

Wow, thanks for the immediate and comprehensive replies Bo and Big Jeezy! Just goes to show why I've become so addicted to this forum since I got my hand me down!

Based on your replies, it looks like I have the 16233 with one slight problem. My dad had this watch serviced before at an RSC because he broke his original crystal, and he told me about how they replaced the crystal with a scratch resistant one. Now by him telling me this, I'm assuming that his original crystal was not scratch resistant...so now I'm wondering, would an RSC replace a crystal with one that is different from what the original model had? Because, as I understand from what I've read in these forums, wouldn't that devalue the watch, as it won't be made of it's original parts?

It's too bad that my dad is taking so long in finding his papers...otherwise I wouldn't have to bother you guys with all these questions! I'd look for them myself but that's kinda hard to do now since he's in the Philippines while I'm based in Singapore :p

So again, thanks for all the help!

[SPACE-DWELLER]

Originally Posted by lazarus

So again, thanks for the help!

I wouldn't worry too much about any decrease in value of your watch if it has had a crystal change. After all, it was the Rolex of your father, and I guess that the sentimental value of the watch is far greater than ANY price you could get.

Any besides that, NOW you have a "scratch resistant" sapphire crystal on it, you should be really unlucky if you got it badly scratched, so probably you NEVER need a new crystal change.

So my suggestion is just wear that lovely watch in good health and enjoy it

[lazarus]

Oh definitely, selling this watch isn't an option =p it's kinda just for my own knowledge, just want to know what model it is that I'm so proudly wearing on my wrist now

[jac67]

To my knowledge, all sapphire crystals are scratch resistant. That is why Rolex changed.


John.

[leopardprey]

BTW, Welcome to the Forum and that is Awesome that your Dad gave you his old Rolex to wear!! Nothing finer in a watch, than one that is passed down from Father to Son. Wear with Pride and in good health!

[SPACE-DWELLER]

Originally Posted by jac67

To my knowledge, all sapphire crystals are scratch resistant. That is why Rolex changed.


John.

Well, "yes and no". Sapphire crystals CAN be scratched. But if it is only minor, superficial scratches, normally they can be polished out with some Diamond paste.

[lazarus]

Thanks for the replies, John, leopardprey and Bo!

And yes, I definitely am wearing it with pride :)

[S2000 Driver]

16610 all the way!

Oops, sorry, that wasn't one of the options.