In your hunt for a classic Rolex Datejust timepiece, you’ll want to know the differences between the vintage 16013 and 16233. From photos, they can appear to look very similar, but these two watches have many elements that set them apart from each other. In the photo above, the 16013 is on the left, and the 16233 is on the right. Let’s do a quick comparison of these two pieces:
| ROLEX DATEJUST | 16013 | 16233 |
| Movement | Automatic, Swiss made, in-house | Automatic, Swiss made, in-house |
| Caliber | Rolex Caliber 3035 | Rolex Caliber 3135 |
| Case | Stainless steel with pierced lugs (holes) | Stainless steel with holes or no holes |
| Crystal | Acrylic
|
Sapphire
|
| Bezel | 14K or 18K gold | 18K gold |
| Bracelet | Stainless steel and 14K gold or 18K gold
|
Stainless steel and 18K gold |
| Certified Chronometer? | Yes | Yes |
Here are a few of the things to consider when searching for a vintage Datejust. Do you want a cool older piece with more history? Or a watch that is made more for everyday use?
Learn more: Comparison between the Rolex caliber 3035 VS. 3135
Shop: Vintage Datejust watches
Thank you for the information!
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Excellent post, thank you for the useful information. Do you know when each model was released and discontinued?
very helpful
What’s weird is that I have a 16013 with a 14k bezel and 18k bracelet and I know this cause my repair estimate from Rolex said this