Review the Rolex Datejust 36mm Black Dial Watch Replica 16030

Review the Rolex Datejust 36mm Black Dial Watch Replica 16030

The Rolex Datejust replica is a classic. It's a more sophisticated model from Rolex, but it has all the "go anywhere, do anything" characteristics of the brand, which makes it a great everyday watch. Today we take a look at this Rolex Datejust 36mm black dial watch replica 16030.

The Dial

Compared to the more lavish examples of the ref. 16XXX series, those in all gold or Rolex’s own mix or gold and steel known as Rolesor, the dials issued for the ref. 16030 replica were relatively conservative.

The steel construction of the watch lent itself better to the brand’s traditional palette of black, white and silver rather than the brightly vibrant colors found elsewhere in the range.

The Rolex Datejust replica has always looked good with a textured dial and the ref. 16030 replica came with both tapestry (smooth vertical stripes) and linen faces (a delicate crosshatching effect). Neither of these types appear in the modern range.

Another favorite is the so-called Buckley dial; its large hand painted Roman numerals the perfect match for the watch’s timeless lines. 

And a bit of searching could well turn up one of the examples made to special order for various organizations, particularly Middle East military bodies. These tend to have the crest or emblem of whichever establishment commissioned it on the dial, giving it a real touch of individuality.

The Case & Bezel

The replica Rolex Datejust 36mm 16030 was the direct replacement for the previous ref. 1603, which had been in production since 1959. As with that watch, the reference number for this new generation was used to describe a piece with a 36mm stainless steel case, topped with a steel, engine turned bezel.

No longer an option at Rolex, having been phased out across the whole collection by the end of the 2000s, engine turned bezels are ones machine etched with an ornate pattern. On the ref. 16030, the surround looks relatively similar to Rolex’s long-serving fluted design and at first glance the watch can easily be mistaken for another reference in the series, the Rolex 16014 replica. However, on that particular model, the bezel is forged from white gold—the ref. 16030 is made only from steel.

The crenelated surround is one of the very few details that ages the watch, a lovely vintage touch that many collectors hope Rolex will reintroduce in some form or another in the contemporary range. At the time though, it wasn’t as popular as either the fluted or the smooth bezels on offer for the Datejust, leading to fewer examples being made. That leaves the ref. 16030 replica as one of the rarer models on the preowned market, giving it a touch of exclusivity.

The Movement

By far the biggest change between the ref. 16XXX series of Datejust and the generation before it lies on the inside.

The preceding references had actually used two different movements during their run, the Cal. 1565 and the Cal. 1575. Both were fairly similar save for their balance frequencies; 18,000vph and 19,800vph respectively. The Cal. 1575 also introduced the hacking function about halfway through its run.

Interestingly though, the Lady-Datejust range had been using a caliber with a speed of 28,800vph (the Cal. 2035) for a number of years by the time Rolex finally got around to building a men’s movement capable of it. That engine was christened the Cal. 3035, and it was the one to power the ref. 16XXX models. This high beat, eight ticks per second frequency is now used in every Rolex watch and it is what gives that silky smooth glide to the seconds hand which has become symbolic of the brand.

The Bracelet

Like its predecessor, the Rolex Datejust 16030 replica came on either the three-flat link Oyster bracelet, or else on the band made especially for the Datejust right at the beginning of its run, the five-semicircular link Jubilee.

Both are acknowledged as two of the finest bracelets ever made for a luxury watch, the Oyster lending a more sporty look overall, while the Jubilee has a touch of formality. Each type has hollow center links, with solid outers, so they have an inherent strength but are not immune to stretching. The end pieces, the ones that connect the bracelet itself to the case, are also hollow on these models, so they have that slight vintage rattle that appeals to many fans.

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