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Rolex Datejust 16030 "Blue Buckley"

DocumentedDocumented from a dealer's listing; attribution and date as stated by the dealer.
Maker / attribution
Rolex (maker)
Date
c. 1984
Country of origin
Switzerland
Object type
Wristwatch
Stock no.
Product 9861057741076
Credit line
Dealer listing, Collectors Corner NY (product 9861057741076)
Catalogue title (original)
Rolex Datejust 16030 "Blue Buckley" - Box & Papers - Rare (English)

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Record summary

Catalogued by Collectors Corner NY (dealer), New York (stock number Product 9861057741076), this is a wristwatch by Rolex, made in Switzerland, dated c. 1984. The Atlas places it in the Quartz Revolution period (1969 – 1990) of its Wristwatches collection. The record is illustrated with 6 photographs.

Assembled from the source record's structured fields. Dates and attributions are given as the source states them; where a field is missing the Atlas leaves it blank rather than estimating.

Catalogue description

Dealer description — Collectors Corner NY

The Rolex Datejust is one of the most significant models in the history of watchmaking. First introduced in 1945, it was the first self-winding wristwatch to display the date on the dial. The Datejust quickly became a symbol of prestige and luxury, and has been worn by some of the world's most influential figures, including U.S. President Eisenhower and Martin Luther King Jr. Over the years, Rolex has continued to refine the design of the Datejust, adding new features and innovations while staying true to its classic look and feel. Today, the Datejust remains one of the most popular and recognizable watches in the world, a testament to its timeless design and enduring appeal. This five-digit reference example is a 745X serial, circa 1984, and benefits from the addition of a quickset date function. This piece houses a rare blue "Buckley" dial which is a collector term used to refer to this distinctive variation of Roman numeral style design. Notably, the hands are also correct and painted white, which pop beautifully off the dial and match the white numerals. This particular example has remained in excellent vintage condition with a fantastic dial, boasting pumpkin patina, with all tritium plots present. The case is strong with thick and even lugs. The bracelet displays light stretch that will fit an approximate 7.5-inch wrist. The icing on the cake here is the addition of its box and papers, making it a true collector's gem. Explore more of our vintage Rolex watches .

Historical context

Quartz Revolution (1969 – 1990)

Seiko's Astron begins mass quartz timekeeping; traditional industries contract sharply.

Quartz and digital watches transformed the market after 1969. Swiss employment collapsed, Japanese and Hong Kong production soared, and the Swatch (1983) helped the Swiss industry recover; mechanical watches survived as luxury goods.

Read the period in the timelineMore wristwatches from this periodEarlier: Modern Mechanical Horology

Atlas type guide

Calendar, moon-phase and perpetual calendar watches

Calendar complications range from a simple date to the perpetual calendar, which automatically allows for months of different lengths and leap years until 2100. Pocket watches with perpetual calendars were made in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries; Patek Philippe made the first perpetual calendar wristwatch in 1925, and series production followed in 1941. The annual calendar (Patek Philippe, 1996) needs correction only once a year.

Moon-phase displays use a disc with two moons and 59 teeth advanced daily, approximating the 29.5-day lunation; more precise trains reduce the error to one day in over a century.

What to look for

  • Apertures or subsidiary dials for day, date, month and leap year.
  • Moon disc under a 'bosom' shaped aperture.
  • Recessed correctors on the case band for setting the calendar.

Dating clues

  • Triple-date wristwatches: popular c. 1940–1955.
  • Perpetual calendar wristwatches: from 1925 (unique) and 1941 (series).

General guidance written by the Atlas editors about this kind of object. It is not a statement about this particular piece; for that, rely on the source record above and on physical examination.

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