Rolex Datejust 16234

A checked version of this page, approved on 17 October 2026, was based on this revision.

Datejust → 16234

The 16234 is a 36 mm Datejust with a stainless-steel case and fluted 18k white-gold bezel. Phillips dates its introduction to 1988 and records a sapphire crystal and Cal. 3135 in place of the preceding generation’s acrylic crystal. Auction catalogues document silver, blue sodalite, mother-of-pearl, and Roman-numeral dials. Monochrome gives 2004 as the end year; Fratello gives 2005. The final production year remains unconfirmed.

Core facts

detail	value
reference	16234
family	Datejust 36
documented dates	Introduced in 1988; examples catalogued from circa 1989 to circa 2002; published end dates conflict
case	36 mm; stainless steel with fluted 18k white-gold bezel
crystal	Sapphire, with Cyclops date magnifier
movement	Automatic Cal. 3135; catalogued examples usually listed with 31 jewels
documented dials	Silver, blue sodalite, mother-of-pearl, and Roman-numeral examples; complete factory range unknown
bracelet	Oyster and Jubilee options reported; original fitment must be established from the individual watch

Where it sits in the line

The 16234 belongs to the five-digit Datejust 36 generation introduced after the 160xx references. Phillips records the move from Plexiglas to sapphire crystal and Cal. 3135. Monochrome describes Oyster and Jubilee bracelet options. Keep the later six-digit 116234 separate; it is a different reference.

Production outline

Phillips states that Rolex introduced the 16234 in 1988. A Christie's catalogue dates one example to circa 1989; Antiquorum dates another to 1992, while Sotheby’s records examples from circa 1995, 1997, and 2002. Phillips catalogued examples from circa 2000 and 2001. The records document watches across that period; the factory's start and end dates remain approximate. Monochrome places the end in 2004, while Fratello gives 2005. Neither source identifies a serial-linked final example, leaving the endpoint approximate.

The caseback stamp 16200 appears on multiple catalogued 16234 examples. Christie's and a Bonhams 2024 lot description report the mark. Sweetroad describes it as a shared stamp used across the 162xx Datejust case group, and a Rolex Forums discussion makes the same claim. Use the between-lug engraving to identify the watch head; treat the shared inside stamp as supporting evidence.

Movement notes

Exact-reference catalogues identify Cal. 3135. Most list 31 jewels; Phillips lot 893 lists 27 for its circa-2000 example. The reason for the discrepancy is unclear. Check the movement on the watch itself rather than inferring its details from the reference number.

Dial map

The catalogued examples show several different executions. Sotheby’s lot 62 has a silvered dial with applied Roman numerals. Phillips lot 1091 shows a blue sodalite dial with diamond-set indexes; Phillips describes each stone dial as individually patterned. Sotheby’s 2020 lot 154 records a mother-of-pearl dial with diamond indexes. Antiquorum’s 1992 example has a silvered dial with eleven diamond indexes. These watches establish examples of the options; the complete factory list and its dates remain unknown.

Sotheby’s, lot 62: silvered dial with Roman numerals, circa 2002
Phillips, lot 1091: blue sodalite dial with diamond-set indexes, circa 2001

Case, bezel, crystal, and crown notes

The catalogued 16234 examples pair a 36 mm steel case with a fluted 18k white-gold bezel. Published photographs show case profiles and exterior backs; catalogue text from Christie's and a Bonhams 2024 lot reports the inside-back stamp 16200. Sweetroad describes it as a shared caseback mark. Use the between-lug engraving to identify the watch head.

Phillips and Antiquorum describe sapphire crystal with a Cyclops lens. A reliable serial cutoff for drilled versus undrilled lugs, lume compound, or other case transitions remains unknown. Collector discussions offer leads, but the available dated and photographed examples are too sparse for a chronology.

Sotheby’s, lot 62: case profile and fluted bezel
Sotheby’s, lot 62: exterior caseback
Sotheby’s, lot 62: crown-side case profile
Phillips, lot 1091: case profile of the sodalite-dial example
Phillips, lot 1091: exterior caseback of the sodalite-dial example

Bracelets, end links, clasps, and packaging notes

Both Oyster and Jubilee bracelets are recorded for the reference. The photographed Sotheby’s lot 62 is on an Oyster bracelet. Phillips lot 1091 and Sotheby’s lot 573 record Jubilee bracelets; Phillips identifies 555B end links and a clasp stamped DE11. Sotheby’s 2020 and Antiquorum’s 1992 examples are also catalogued on Jubilee bracelets. Bonhams records bracelet 62510H with 555B end links on its 1996-purchased watch. These are lot-level descriptions; original delivery and a universal bracelet-and-clasp pairing remain unverified.

Boxes, guarantees, and papers appear with some auction examples. They document the contents of those lots, not a standard package supplied with every 16234.

Special branches

The reviewed material identifies no separate production sub-reference within 16234. Sodalite, mother-of-pearl, and diamond-index dials are individual documented configurations. They show some of the variation among surviving examples; the complete factory list and the originality of any individual watch need separate evidence.

Auction record

record	catalogue details	limit
Christie's, circa 1989	Blue dial; steel and white-gold bezel; 36 mm; automatic Cal. 3135; Jubilee bracelet 62510H with 555B end links	Individual catalogue record; inside back marked 16200
Antiquorum, New York, 2009, lot 262	Example dated 1992; silvered dial with eleven diamond indexes; steel and white gold; 36 mm; Cal. 3135/31 jewels; Jubilee bracelet	Catalogue date applies to this watch
Sotheby’s, 2020, lot 154	Circa 1997; mother-of-pearl dial with diamond indexes; 36 mm; Cal. 3135/31 jewels; Jubilee bracelet	One dial and bracelet configuration
Sotheby’s, 2021, lot 62	Circa 2002; silvered Roman-numeral dial; steel and 18k white gold; 36 mm; Cal. 3135/31 jewels; Oyster bracelet	Papers accompany the lot; no movement photograph
Sotheby’s, 2022, lot 573	Circa 1995; blue sodalite dial with diamond indexes; Cal. 3135/31 jewels; Jubilee bracelet	One hardstone-dial example
Phillips, Hong Kong Watch Auction XII, lot 893	Circa 2000; blue sodalite and diamond-index dial; Cal. 3135/27 jewels; Jubilee bracelet with 555B end links	Jewel count differs from most reviewed catalogue entries
Phillips, Hong Kong Watch Auction XIII, lot 1091	Circa 2001; blue sodalite dial with diamond indexes; Cal. 3135/31 jewels; Jubilee bracelet with 555B end links; clasp marked DE11	The guarantee is dated 18 February 2002
Bonhams Paris, 2024, lot 3044	Purchased in 1996; white Roman-numeral dial; Cal. 3135/31 jewels; Jubilee bracelet 62510H/555B	Purchase date does not establish production date

Gallery

Sotheby’s, lot 62: circa-2002 silver Roman-numeral dial
Sotheby’s, lot 62: case profile
Sotheby’s, lot 62: exterior caseback
Sotheby’s, lot 62: crown-side profile
Phillips, lot 1091: blue sodalite dial
Phillips, lot 1091: sodalite-dial case profile
Phillips, lot 1091: exterior caseback of the sodalite-dial example