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Rolex Datejust 36
Ref. 116234
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Stepping up in Rolex's range
The Datejust turned fifty in 1995, and the 116234 represents the generation Rolex built to carry those five decades forward — heavier lugs, thicker flanks, a case presence that reads as more substantial on the wrist than the diameter alone suggests. The fluted bezel here is solid 18ct white gold, not plated, which accounts for part of that weight and explains why the polish holds the way it does across the years. The 3135 inside has been Rolex's workhorse chronometer calibre for long enough that its service network is comprehensive and its behaviour well understood. A 48-hour reserve is modest by current standards, but the movement's reputation rests on consistency across decades rather than headline figures. Bracelet adjustment on this generation is done by removing solid screw-linked segments — more involved than a micro-adjust, but it means nothing slips once set. One detail worth knowing: production of the 116234 ran across a period when Rolex changed its luminescent compound, moving from green-emitting Super-LumiNova to the blue-casting Chromalight around 2007. The lume colour on any individual example depends on when it left the factory, which is occasionally relevant when matching a set or replacing a bracelet from a different year.
- Reference
- 116234
- Brand
- Rolex
- Collection
- Datejust
- Case size
- 36mm
- Case thickness
- 11.6mm
- Lug width
- 20mm
- Case material
- Stainless steel
- Case shape
- Round
- Dial
- Grey
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Movement
- Automatic
- Calibre
- 3135
- Functions
- Date
- Water resistance
- 100m
- Bracelet / strap
- Stainless steel bracelet
- Strap colour
- Silver
- Clasp
- Folding clasp
- Lume
- Super-LumiNova
- Retailer
- Goldsmiths
Additional specifications
- Lug-to-lug
- 44.2mm
- Power reserve
- 48 hours
Learn more about Rolex
Hans Wilsdorf founded Wilsdorf & Davis in London in 1905 with his brother-in-law Alfred Davis, importing Swiss movements and casing them in England. He registered the name Rolex in 1908 — short, pronounceable in any language, and easy to fit on a dial.
Wilsdorf's conviction was that the wristwatch, then regarded as a woman's ornament and hopelessly fragile, could be made accurate and durable. He proved the first half in 1910 by obtaining the first chronometer certification for a wristwatch, and the second in 1926 with the Oyster case, sealed by a screw-down crown and caseback. Mercedes Gleitze swam the Channel wearing one in 1927, and Wilsdorf bought the front page of the Daily Mail to say so — arguably the first modern watch marketing campaign.
The Perpetual rotor followed in 1931, giving automatic winding in a form the whole industry eventually copied. The company relocated to Geneva during the First World War to escape British wartime duties.
The professional models arrived in a compressed burst in the 1950s: Submariner, Explorer, GMT-Master, Milgauss, and later the Daytona. Each was built for a specific job — diving, exploration, aviation, laboratory work, racing — and each became a design template.
Wilsdorf left his shares to a private foundation on his death, so Rolex answers to no shareholders. It remains the largest producer of certified chronometers in Switzerland by a wide margin.
- 1905
- Hans Wilsdorf founds Wilsdorf & Davis in London.
- 1908
- The Rolex name is registered.
- 1926
- The Oyster case introduces genuine water resistance.
- 1931
- The Perpetual rotor brings modern automatic winding.
- 1953
- The Submariner and Explorer launch.
- 1963
- The Cosmograph Daytona arrives.
Also in 5 collections
This watch appears in the Rolex Datejust range (11), Stainless Steel Watches (2,613), Automatic Watches (1,462), Watches Under 37mm (1,361) and Grey Dial Watches (213).
Manufacturer’s guarantee
What the specifications mean
A mechanical watch for everyday wear.
Strengths
- 100m water resistance covers swimming and watersports
- 36mm suits most wrists
- Sapphire crystal, which resists scratching
- Luminous hands and markers for low light
- Sits in the lower half of Rolex's range as we list it
Rolex Datejust 36 alternatives
Watches from other brands at a similar price, style and size, so you can see what else your budget can buy.
| Specification | 116234 | 03.9400.670/51.I001 | 1-39-22-08-22-44 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £8,750 | £8,100 | £8,700 |
| Case size | 36mm | 36mm | 36mm |
| Water resistance | 100m | 100m | 50m |
| Movement | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic |
| Strap | Stainless steel bracelet | Stainless steel bracelet | Fabric strap |
| Power reserve | 48 hours | 50 hours | 40 hours |
| This watch | Closely matched |
|
Your new watch
Frequently asked questions, and things you should know about this watch
Can I swim with it?
Yes. At 100m it is rated for swimming and snorkelling, though not for diving.
Will the glass scratch?
Unlikely. Sapphire is second only to diamond in hardness and shrugs off everyday marking.
Does it need a battery?
No. It is automatic — the motion of your wrist winds it, and there is no cell to replace.
How long does it run for when it's not worn?
About 48 hours fully wound — enough to survive a night off the wrist, but not a full weekend.
What size strap does it take?
20mm. Any strap of that width will fit, and on most modern watches quick-release bars make the swap a two-minute job with no tools.
Will it fit my wrist?
Lug-to-lug is 44.2mm, which suits wrists from roughly 16cm (6¼ inches) upward.
Lug-to-lug decides fit more than case diameter does.
Is it a men's or women's watch?
Listed as unisex, and at this size it suits any wrist that takes the dimensions.
Cheapest place to buy
Goldsmiths at £8,750 is the cheapest of 3 UK retailers, against £10,450 at the dearest — a difference of £1,700.
Who are Goldsmiths?
Goldsmiths has been selling watches in Britain since 1778 and is part of the Watches of Switzerland Group, which is listed on the London Stock Exchange. They are an authorised dealer, so a watch comes with the manufacturer’s own warranty.
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