Our 1978 Rolex Oyster Perpetual Datejust 16014 has a 36mm Oyster case in stainless steel and solid white gold bezel. The slender case has a subtle curve towards the lugs with a lug to lug length of 43.5mm and a thickness of 11mm, ensuring a comfortable fit on your wrist. On the right-hand side is the Rolex-signed, screw-down, Oyster crown. A fluted gold bezel adds character to the watch creating an impressive wrist presence. Flat plexiglass sits above a vibrant and original silvered dial. Applied baton indexes catch the light as you rotate your wrist. Tritium lume pips sit atop of the indexes marking the hours. At 3 o’clock a framed date window with a cyclops magnification on the above crystal. Slim beveled edged baton hands are complemented with a tapered sweeping center seconds hand. At 12 o’clock an applied Rolex crown. On the reverse, a coin-edged screw-down case back. Inside an Automatic Rolex Cal. 3035, 27 jewels, 28,800 beats per hour. The watch comes fitted on its original, stainless steel 20mm Jubilee bracelet with brushed outer links and polished center, secured on the wrist by a signed folding clasp. It is the full deal as it also comes with its Rolex presentation box outer, chronometer certification paper and booklet.
Hans Wilsdorf founded Rolex in 1905 at the age of 24, along with Alfred Davis in London. In 1919 they moved their operation to Geneva, Switzerland. This move was brought about by high wartime taxes on Gold and Silver in the UK after the Great war 1914-1918. They were now closer to their suppliers in Bienne.
The Rolex Oyster case was released in 1926. Marketed as the world's first “waterproof” watch. The notches on the bezel and case back meant they could be screwed down to the middle case with a special tool invented and manufactured by Rolex to hermetically seal the case. In 1927 a young swimmer Miss Mercedes Gleitz swam the English channel wearing the “Oyster”. Later in 1933 the team of the first expedition to fly over Everest wore them. It was also famously worn by Sir Malcolm Campbell, “King Of Speed”, on the 4th September 1935. An advert of the time made a big splash with him saying “The Rolex watch is still keeping perfect time- I was wearing it yesterday when Bluebird exceeded 300 mph.” He broke the world land speed record 9 times between 1924 and 1936. 1931 saw the debut of the Rolex Oyster Perpetual, their first self-winding watch that was also water-resistant and dustproof.
This watch comes fully serviced by our on-site workshop and with our 12 months, non-waterproof service cover.
What we think
Finding original vintage watches from Rolex in this condition can be very tough and often the ones we see offered are refinished dials or service dials, which is not the end of the world. But when you get an original in hand, such as this one, it is such a beautiful dial you can see why it's worth waiting! The lume dots and hands are matching and have a slight age and adding character, the tone fades and changes over time creating more of a unique tone, all this matched with steel and polished gold bezel really pops on and off the wrist.
Spec Stuff
Serial : 569####
Reference : 16014
Movement : Automatic Rolex Cal. 3035 Age : 1970/1979 Specific Age : 1978 Case Size :36mm Case Thickness : 11mm Lug to Lug : 43.5mm Lugs :20mm Condition : Pre-Owned Box & Papers : Outer Box, Inner Box, Book, + Cert Case Material : Stainless Steel + White Gold Bezel Service History : 12-Months NON-Waterproof Warranty
1978 Stunning Rolex Steel Oyster Perpetual Datejust with Fluted White Gold Bezel & Silvered Dial Model 16014 with Box, Book & Cert
