Rolex Datejust
+143 % above RRP
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ℹ️ 1-month trend
Price change over the past 30 days. Shows the short-term market movement — relevant if you want to buy or sell soon.
ℹ️ 4-month trend
The central metric behind the momentum score. It filters out short-term swings and shows the true, medium-term market trend of this reference.
ℹ️ Volatility
Annualised price fluctuation. Below 10 % = very stable, 10–20 % = normal, above 20 % = volatile. With high volatility the price can change quickly — in both directions. Be cautious about buying without checking the current price.
ℹ️ Momentum score
ChronoCheck's own indicator from 0 to 100, calculated from the 4-month trend, volatility and market direction.
- Above 60 — Upward trend. Good time to sell, prices are rising.
- 40 – 60 — Neutral. Stable price level, no pressure to act.
- Below 40 — Downward trend. Wait or enter at a good price.
ℹ️ Investment Grade A/B/C/D
ChronoCheck's own rating for each reference. A 0–100 point scale, made up of four weighted components:
- Momentum (40 pts) — trend strength from the momentum score.
- Liquidity (25 pts) — number of active live listings.
- Stability (20 pts) — inverse volatility — the calmer, the better.
- Source robustness (15 pts) — number of independent market sources.
- A · 75+ Trend is right, liquidity good, data broad.
- B · 55–74 Solid, but one component weaker.
- C · 35–54 Average, volatility or market breadth weigh on it.
- D · below 35 Downward or too little data — a collector's piece.
Not investment advice. Pure data analysis from aggregated market sources.
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Technical data
Lift angle 52° — important for timing-machine diagnosis: with this value a watchmaker can correctly measure rate deviation, amplitude and beat error. ChronoCheck verifies such technical details directly from the manufacturers' factory specifications.
Rolex Ref. 116138 — Variants and collector names
Known as: DJ Gold, Full Yellow Gold DJ, Solid Gold Datejust, Yellow Gold DJ 36
Production phases and changes
- 2005: Rehaut serial number introduced
- 2008: Lug serial number phased out
- 2010: Switch to randomized serial numbers
- 2021: Replaced by Ref. 126138 (Cal. 3235)
Movement variants
- 3135 (2000–2021) · 28800 bph
Bezel variants
- Fluted Bezel 18k Gold "Fluted Bezel / Fluted Bezel"
Dial variants
- 116138-Blue-Arabic-Index — ROLEX / OYSTER PERPETUAL / DATEJUST – Arabic numerals, gold hands
- 116138-Champagne-Baton-Index — ROLEX / OYSTER PERPETUAL / DATEJUST – stick indices, gold hands
- Chocolate DJ — ROLEX / OYSTER PERPETUAL / DATEJUST – Arabic hour markers, gold hands
- 116138-White-Baton-Index — ROLEX / OYSTER PERPETUAL / DATEJUST / Swiss Made – stick index hour markers
- Diamond Dial YG — ROLEX / OYSTER PERPETUAL / DATEJUST – diamond hour markers, gold hands
Crystal variants
- Saphirglas mit Cyclops
Bracelet variants
- Lederarmband mit Goldschließe Ref. Lederband
- Jubilee 18k Gelbgold Ref. 63600
Serial numbers
- Y-prefix (~100.000) – Y-prefix (~999.999) (2001–2002) — Letter-Prefix system: Y ≈ 2001/2002. Serial number between the lugs at 6 o'clock (lug engraving).
- A-prefix – A-prefix (2003–2003) — A-Prefix ≈ 2003.
- P-prefix – P-prefix (2004–2004) — P-Prefix ≈ 2004.
- K-prefix – K-prefix (2005–2005) — K-Prefix ≈ 2005. Auction documentation: ca. 2005 with K serial number recorded.
- Z-prefix – Z-prefix (2006–2006) — Z-Prefix ≈ 2006.
- F-prefix – F-prefix (2007–2007) — F-Prefix ≈ 2007. From 2007, gradual migration of serial to rehaut.
- D-prefix / V-prefix – V-prefix (2008–2009) — D ≈ 2008, V ≈ 2009. Last Letter-Prefix year. Rehaut engraving now standard.
- Randomisiert – Randomisiert (2010–2021) — From 2010, fully randomized serial numbers — year dating by serial number alone is no longer possible. Datable only via Warranty Card / Box-Papers.
The Rolex Datejust 36 in 18-karat yellow gold, reference 116138, is the all-gold variant of one of the best-selling watches in the world. In the trade it goes by "DJ Gold," "Solid Gold Datejust," or "Full Yellow Gold DJ." Caliber 3135, which Rolex has used in the Datejust line since 1988, delivers 28,800 vph with a 48-hour power reserve. Production ran until 2021, when reference 126138 took over with Cal. 3235 and a 70-hour power reserve.
## The Fluted Bezel in Solid Gold
The fluted bezel in solid 18k yellow gold mirrors the case material without any plating compromise — no gold layer over steel, but yellow gold through and through. Five dial variants exist: white with baton indices, champagne, blue with Arabic numerals, Chocolate Sunburst (known in the market as the "Chocolate DJ"), and the diamond dial version with set brilliant indices. The chocolate variant consistently commands a 15 to 20 percent premium on the pre-owned market over the white baton version.
## What the Serial Number Reveals — and What It No Longer Can
On early examples of the 116138, the serial number is still engraved between the lugs. From around 2005, Rolex added the engraving to the rehaut at 6 o'clock; between 2008 and 2010 the lug engraving was dropped entirely. With the switch to randomized serial numbers in 2010, dating a watch's production year by serial number alone is no longer possible. The combination of a present rehaut engraving and an absent lug engraving narrows the production window to approximately 2010 to 2021.
Brand profile: Rolex
Rolex is the most counterfeited watch brand in the world. Super-clones (VSF, ARF, Clean — the latter inactive after a raid in 07/2025, only old stock remaining) achieve 95%+ similarity. Authenticity is almost always detectable only via micro-details + movement behavior.
- Case back: ALWAYS solid and closed — any display window = definitely fake (exception: Vintage Ref. 6085 only)
- Minute hand length: genuine Rolex minute hands end EXACTLY at the minute chapter ring. 1 mm too long = fake. Strongest VSF tell.
- Seconds hand: smooth sweep without any hesitation — the slightest tick = fake
- Cyclops lens (on date models): must magnify exactly 2.5×, date fills almost the entire window
Serial number format: Since 2010: random alphanumeric combination (e.g. 'G3M9K721'). 2000–2010: letter + 6–7 digits. Serial number engraved on the rehaut at 6 o'clock (from ~2005). Older models: between the lugs at 6 o'clock on the case.
Further sources
Buying guide: Rolex Datejust
Market situation and price range
At $16,267 the Datejust sits in a segment where first owners sell regularly — clean pieces with box and papers are not uncommon. The jump from "good" to "very good" usually costs 1,000 to 2,000 euros more at purchase. You get that premium back on resale if the condition is preserved.
Watch out for swings: This reference has an above-average volatility of 29.4 percent. In concrete terms: the price can move by several hundred euros within a few weeks. Check the current value before buying or selling — old listings or auction results from two months ago are of little help.
What to look out for when buying?
- Authenticity: The serial number and reference on the case must match the papers. A professional authenticity check of the Rolex Datejust reliably rules out counterfeits.
- Condition: Check scratches on the case and bezel — professional refurbishment can leave traces.
- Service history: A documented service by the manufacturer or a certified watchmaker increases the value.
- Scope of delivery: Box, papers and warranty card make a noticeable price difference on the Datejust.
- Independent certification: The CPS-52 standard covers 52 checkpoints — from the serial number and the timing machine to water resistance. The result is secured on the blockchain and can be verified at any time.
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