Rolex Datejust 16013 36mm “Buckley Dial” – 18ct Gold & Steel – Box – c.1982

Offered for sale is a beautiful and highly characterful vintage Rolex Datejust reference 16013, dating to approximately 1982, fitted with the distinctive and increasingly collectible “Buckley” Roman numeral dial.

The Buckley Dial

The term “Buckley dial” is an unofficial collector nickname used to describe a distinctive family of vintage Rolex dials characterised by their large painted Roman numerals, rather than the more conventional applied hour markers.

The name is associated with prominent Rolex collector and dealer John Buckley, whose enthusiasm for these unusual Roman numeral dials helped bring them to the attention of the wider vintage Rolex collecting community. Today, the term is firmly established among collectors, although it was never an official Rolex designation. 

Buckley dials are particularly associated with vintage Datejust references from the 1970s and 1980s, and their unmistakable typography gives them a completely different character from the much more commonly encountered baton-dial Datejust. 

This Particular Example

This example is especially attractive because of the way the dial has aged over the decades.

The dial has developed a beautiful and remarkably even warm golden/champagne-brown patina, giving the watch considerable vintage character. Against this aged background, the dark painted Roman numerals and matching dark hands create the distinctive high-contrast appearance for which Buckley dials are known.

Rather than looking like a standard two-tone Datejust, the combination gives this watch a much more individual and unmistakably vintage presence.

The watch features the classic 36mm stainless-steel Oyster case, complemented by an 18ct yellow-gold fluted bezel, yellow-gold winding crown and matching two-tone Rolex Oyster bracelet.

Inside is Rolex’s automatic Calibre 3035, featuring the practical quick-set date function — one of the defining technical improvements of this generation of Datejust.

Specifications

Brand: Rolex
Model: Datejust
Reference: 16013
Serial: Approx. 7.11 million
Year: Circa 1982
Case Diameter: 36mm
Case Material: Stainless Steel
Bezel: 18ct Yellow Gold, Fluted
Crown: Yellow Gold
Dial: Buckley Roman Numeral Dial with naturally developed vintage patina
Movement: Rolex Calibre 3035 Automatic
Functions: Hours, Minutes, Seconds & Quick-Set Date
Crystal: Acrylic
Bracelet: Rolex Two-Tone Stainless Steel & Yellow Gold Oyster Bracelet
Wrist Size: Approximately up to 18cm

Condition

The watch presents very well for its age and retains exactly the sort of character that makes vintage Rolex collecting so interesting.

As expected from a watch that is more than four decades old, there are signs of previous wear to the case, bezel and bracelet consistent with normal use.

The real highlight, however, is undoubtedly the Buckley dial and its naturally aged appearance. The warm patina has developed across the dial over time and gives this particular example an appearance that cannot simply be replicated on a modern watch.

Please examine all photographs carefully, as they form an integral part of the description and provide the best representation of the watch’s cosmetic condition.

Included

The watch is supplied with:

• Rolex presentation box
• Rolex booklet
• Rolex calendar

A Distinctive Vintage Rolex

The Datejust is one of Rolex’s longest-running and most recognisable designs, but unusual dial configurations are what can make individual vintage examples particularly interesting to collectors.

The Buckley dial has developed its own following within vintage Rolex collecting, with its painted Roman numerals providing an immediately recognisable alternative to the conventional Datejust dial. 

Combined with the classic steel and 18ct yellow-gold construction, 36mm proportions and the beautifully aged dial, this 16013 offers considerably more personality than a typical two-tone Datejust of the period.

A wonderful opportunity to acquire a characterful and increasingly appreciated vintage Rolex Datejust, equally suitable as a collector’s piece or as an elegant everyday watch.

Available from About Time St Albans.

Worldwide shipping available. All watches are carefully packaged and shipped fully insured.