Rolex certainly doesn’t have a shortage of “firsts” to its name. It all started with the world’s first waterproof wristwatch in 1926 with the Rolex Oyster. Then, in 1931, Rolex followed up with the Oyster Perpetual—the world's first automatic watch mechanism equipped with a Perpetual rotor. A little over a decade later, in 1945, Rolex offered up yet another groundbreaking innovation with the world’s first self-winding wristwatch with a date indicator on the dial. An automatic watch that could indicate both time and date was an incredibly big deal in the 1940s. Rolex named that watch the Oyster Perpetual Datejust, or Datejust for short. While the inaugural model was crafted in 18k yellow gold and presented on a Jubilee bracelet, there have been countless iterations of the watch since it was first released. In fact, a major appeal of the Datejust is the immense variety of the collection.
The Design of the Rolex Datejust Ref. 16220
Rolex produced the stainless steel Datejust ref. 16220 from 1989 to 1996. Like other
Datejust models such as the Datejust
16014, 1601,
16234, and
16233, it sports the traditional 36mm Oyster case. It’s important to note that although 36mm sounds small — particularly considering today’s watch trends — the Datejust wears larger due to the design of the case and lugs. Many are surprised at just how great it fits on a man’s wrist. As with most Datejust models, this reference offers plenty of dial options including different colors and indexes. Furthermore, the
Datejust ref. 16220 also comes paired with either the dressier Jubilee five-link bracelet or the sportier three-link Oyster bracelet. The most distinguishing detail of the Datejust ref. 16220, however, is its engine-turned stainless steel bezel, which is not too common when considering Rolex catalog. Stainless steel bezels on Rolex Datejust watches are typically smooth. On the other hand, the iconic Rolex fluted bezel is always in gold, whether white, yellow, or pink. As a result, the Datejust ref. 16220’s engine-turned bezel offers a great balance between the classic elegance of the fluted bezel and the contemporary appeal of stainless steel.
The Mechanics of the Rolex Datejust Ref. 16220
Beating at the core of the Datejust ref. 16220 is the famous in-house Rolex Caliber 3135 automatic movement. It includes the instantaneous date change feature, thus allowing the date to instantly “jump” to the next date at midnight. The Caliber 3135 is also a “quick-set” movement, meaning that the date can be changed independently from the hour hand. Due to its practicality, this feature is a must-have for many Rolex fans. The 3135 mechanical movement operates at 28,800 beats per hour and offers a respectable 48-hour power reserve.Beating at the core of the Datejust ref. 16220 is the famous in-house Rolex Caliber 3135 automatic movement. It includes the instantaneous date change feature, thus allowing the date to instantly “jump” to the next date at midnight. The Caliber 3135 is also a “quick-set” movement, meaning that the date can be changed independently from the hour hand. Due to its practicality, this feature is a must-have for many Rolex fans. The 3135 mechanical movement operates at 28,800 beats per hour and offers a respectable 48-hour power reserve. The quintessential Rolex timepiece, the Datejust is a luxury watch that offers a rich history with a distinct and timeless design, along with modern practicality. And thanks to its intriguing bezel, the Rolex ref. 16220 is a Datejust that proudly stands out among its siblings.
