Rolex Lady-Datejust "Gold Buckley"

What sets this Rolex Lady-Datejust reference 6916 apart is the Buckley dial. Named for the collector who first identified it, this variant replaces applied indices with Roman numerals painted directly onto the lacquer, a finish Rolex offered for only a handful of years in the late 1970s and early 1980s, while reference 6916 was in production. On a 26 mm gold case the effect is graphic and unmistakable.

The watch is executed entirely in 18k yellow gold, the smooth bezel leaving the composition to the dial. A champagne ground warms the painted Roman chapter and frames the date at three, with matching hands moving across without crowding the numerals. The Oyster bracelet, integral to the reference, closes on a yellow gold deployant clasp marked with the Rolex crown, and the winding crown screws down. Inside runs the automatic calibre 2035 with quickset date.

Overall condition is excellent, the gold case and bracelet showing the soft character of an Oyster Perpetual that has been worn and cared for rather than shut away. The watch comes with its original Rolex box, a welcome addition to a reference that was the everyday gold Rolex on a generation of wrists. A complete and elegant Lady-Datejust in one of its most distinctive dial executions.