A 36mm two-tone Datejust in steel and 18ct yellow gold, the 116233 sits between the older 16233 and the current 126233 in the Datejust 36 family. Produced from around 2000 to 2016, it carries a yellow gold fluted bezel, Jubilee bracelet and Calibre 3135, and represents one of the more accessible routes into a Rolesor Datejust.
The 116233 replaced the 16233 around 2000 and held its place in the Datejust 36 lineup until Rolex updated the collection with the 126233 in 2016. The core identity stayed the same throughout: steel and yellow gold, fluted bezel, Jubilee bracelet, Calibre 3135. What changed was the detail.
The 116233 brought a revised case profile with slightly sharper lugs, a redesigned Oyster bracelet clasp and updated dial printing across the range, all of which give it a noticeably more refined feel than the generation before it.
Champagne dials in baton and diamond configurations are the most commonly found options for this reference, and both work well with the yellow gold detailing. The diamond dial carries a modest premium over the baton given the additional cost of factory-set hour markers, but both sit at a similar price point overall.
If you want to compare the 116233 to other options within the two-tone Datejust 36 family, the Datejust 36 collection and the broader Datejust range are good starting points.
Examples of the 116233 range from around ten years old at the newer end through to pieces approaching 25 years at the oldest, so condition varies considerably. The Jubilee bracelet is the most important thing to assess: check the centre links for deep scratching and the clasp mechanism for any looseness or wear at the hinge. A bracelet that has been well looked after will feel solid throughout with no significant play.
The yellow gold fluted bezel is the other area worth examining carefully. Polishing can round off the ridges noticeably on older examples, and once that sharpness has gone it is difficult to restore. On the dial, champagne dials on this reference have generally aged well, though it is worth checking for any discolouration on older examples under good light. The box and papers are also reasonably achievable on the 116233 given its more recent production era, and they are worth seeking out. If a specific configuration is what you are after, get in touch and we can help.
Pre-owned examples typically sit between £8,000 and £11,000, with condition and dial choice the main factors. Diamond dial examples and complete sets with box and papers tend to sit towards the top of that range, while baton dial pieces in honest pre-owned condition represent good value lower down.
Relative to the older 16233, the 116233 generally commands a slight premium reflecting its more recent production era and typically better average condition. Current production two-tone Datejust 36 options carry a notably higher price, making the 116233 a sensible middle ground for anyone who wants the Rolesor combination without the cost of a newer reference.
