Rolex Lady-Datejust 179173

Datejust → 179173

Rolex Lady-Datejust ref. 179173 with a white diamond-index dial, fluted yellow-gold bezel and Jubilee bracelet. — Christie's catalogued this example circa 2006.

The 179173 is a 26 mm Lady-Datejust in stainless steel and 18 ct yellow gold, with a fluted gold bezel and automatic Cal. 2235. Rolex's 2011 US list gives Jubilee and Oyster bracelet options and a broad range of dial choices. Exact production endpoints remain uncertain: specialist histories place the reference around 2003–2016, while dated examples and Rolex's later family history leave the precise changeover unresolved.

Core facts

detail	value
reference	179173
model	Oyster Perpetual Lady-Datejust
family	Datejust
case	26 mm, stainless steel
bezel	18 ct yellow gold, fluted
crystal	sapphire
movement	Cal. 2235 automatic; 31-jewel chronometer specification
water resistance	100 m, as listed by Quark
bracelet options	Jubilee 63133; Oyster 72133
documented examples	circa 2003, circa 2005, circa 2006 and a circa-2015 catalogue outlier

Where it sits in the line

The 179173 is the Yellow Rolesor member of the 26 mm Lady-Datejust generation that followed the 79173. Quark and Watchpedia date its introduction to 2003 and identify the move to the Cal. 2235 generation. Quark describes the updated case and bracelet construction; those are specialist summaries rather than factory changeover records. Rolex's official history says the Lady-Datejust grew to 28 mm in 2015. Quark dates the 28 mm 279173 from 2016, so the sources leave a possible overlap between catalogue years rather than a firm last-production date for the 179173.

Production outline

Bonhams catalogued a ref. 179173 as circa 2003. Christie's described another as circa 2006, while Leland Little dates its example to circa 2005. These records confirm the reference in the early part of the specialist chronology. Quark and Watchpedia give 2003–2016, but no factory production ledger or serial-linked final example has surfaced in the sources reviewed here. Treat those years as estimates, not hard boundaries.

Christie's also catalogued a watch as circa 2015 ref. 179173 and measured its case at 28 mm. Its sale notice says the lot title and serial were updated to “REF. 179173” and “V546305.” Rolex's 2011 list specifies 26 mm, as does Christie's 2018 lot. Rolex dates the family move to 28 mm to 2015. The 2022 lot therefore remains an identification or measurement discrepancy; it does not change the documented 26 mm specification.

Movement notes

Bonhams, Christie's and Leland Little identify Cal. 2235 in exact-reference examples. Bonhams calls its circa-2003 movement a 31-jewel automatic adjusted to five positions and temperature. Rolex's 2011 list describes a 31-jewel chronometer movement but does not name the calibre. The reviewed examples and period specification agree on the 2235 generation; the detailed adjustment claim comes from Bonhams' single catalogue entry.

Dial map

The May 2011 Rolex US list is unusually useful for this reference: it names numerous dial options. They are catalogue offerings for that market and year, not proof that every dial was available throughout the run.

Rolex's 2011 description	notes
Arabic dial with two diamonds	Listed with Jubilee bracelet 63133
Dial with ten diamonds	Listed with Jubilee bracelet 63133
“Jubilee” dial with ten diamonds	Listed with Oyster 72133
Mother-of-pearl Roman or decorated Roman	Listed with Jubilee 63133
Mother-of-pearl with two diamonds; mother-of-pearl diamond; “Jubilee” diamond	Separate catalogue options with Jubilee 63133
Goldust mother-of-pearl Arabic with two diamonds; Goldust mother-of-pearl diamond	Separate catalogue options with Jubilee 63133
Onyx Arabic with two diamonds; jadeite; meteorite with ten diamonds	Listed as semi-precious-stone options

Christie's describes its circa-2006 example with a white dial and diamond indexes. Bonhams describes a circa-2003 champagne sunburst dial with diamond-set markers. Those records show two specific watches, not a complete dial sequence.

Close view of the 179173 dial, showing diamond indexes, date window and dial printing. — Christie's, lot 160.

Case, bezel, crystal, and crown notes

Rolex's May 2011 catalogue specifies a 26 mm stainless-steel case, fluted 18 ct yellow-gold bezel and sapphire crystal. Bonhams describes a screw-down Oyster back and crown on its circa-2003 example. Quark lists 100 m water resistance. Bonhams' 27 mm measurement for that watch conflicts with Rolex's nominal 26 mm size; the catalogue gives no explanation, so 26 mm remains the reference specification.

Christie's photographs show the exterior caseback on one example; its condition report says the inside caseback is stamped 2320. That stamp is an observation from one watch, not a reference-wide authentication rule.

Rear view of a Lady-Datejust 179173 with closed Oyster caseback and two-tone Jubilee bracelet. — Christie's, lot 160.

Bracelets, end links, clasps, and packaging notes

Rolex listed Jubilee bracelet 63133 and Oyster bracelet 72133 for the 179173 in 2011. Christie's describes its 2006 example with bracelet and end links stamped 63133; Leland Little's circa-2005 example is fitted with Oyster 72133. The different options are documented, but an individual watch's original bracelet still needs its own dated paperwork or delivery evidence.

Bonhams calls its bracelet stamped 63133 a “President” bracelet. Rolex's period list calls 63133 Jubilee, and Christie's also identifies 63133 as Jubilee. Bonhams' wording is an outlier; it is not used as the bracelet name here.

Christie's lists a Rolex box, outer card, guarantee, product literature, polishing cloth and hang tags with its 2006 watch. Those items describe one lot. Rolex boxes and papers are period accessories, not reference-specific equipment.

Special branches

The cited sources document standard catalogue and retail examples. They do not document a military, retailer-signed or commissioned variant.

Historical market and auction record

record	what it documents
Bonhams, London, lot 252, April 2015	Ref. 179173, serial F70****, described circa 2003; Cal. 2235; champagne dial with diamond markers; bracelet 63133. Bonhams gives 27 mm and calls 63133 “President.”
Leland Little, lot 1077, 2024	Described circa 2005; mother-of-pearl diamond-index dial; Oyster 72133; photographs show Cal. 2235 and caseback stamp 2320.
Christie's, lot 160, 2018	Described circa 2006; 26 mm; white diamond-index dial; Cal. 2235; bracelet and end links stamped 63133; inside caseback stamped 2320; box and papers listed.
Bonhams, lot 79, June 2023	A 26 mm example catalogued as purchased on 21 July 2006, with champagne dial, Cal. 2235 and Jubilee bracelet stamped 63133. Purchase date is not manufacture date.
Christie's, lot 225, 2022	Catalogued circa 2015 as ref. 179173 at 28 mm. The sale notice records an updated reference title; the case identification or measurement remains unresolved.
Rolex Forums, seller post, October 2019	Seller describes a 2006, 26 mm ref. 179173 with bracelet 63133 and silver diamond-marker dial. This is a sales description, not independent authentication or proof of original fitment.

Related references

79173, the previous Yellow Rolesor Lady-Datejust generation
279173, the 28 mm Yellow Rolesor generation
Serial numbers by year

Gallery

White diamond-index dial, circa 2006; Christie's
Dial detail; same Christie's example
Caseback and Jubilee bracelet; same Christie's example

Sources