DATEJUST date wheel: open and closed

[Juggernaut]

When did the transition from open date (6's and 9's) wheels to closed date wheels take place on the Datejust? It must have been in the middle of the 160XX run and was transitioned already by the time the sapphire 162XX models were made.

Can anyone confirm this with more info.

Thanks

[Old Expat Beast]

It was around 1989/90 as far as I know.

[crowncollection]

Tricky question indeed, from new about 1999. However it is a serviceable part and watchmakers and Rolex did not throw the old stock out. When watches were serviced they used old stock up first as they were made for the first few years for the 16200 series so they will fit them all. Datewheel are not replaced every service, rather only when stained or worn so they lasted years and were put in watches post 1999 for quite a few years during servicing.


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[Juggernaut]

Interesting....
1989 seems about right because I had a 84XXXXX series 16030 with closed numbers....must have been one o the first ones to switch over.

[crowncollection]

Originally Posted by Juggernaut

Interesting....
1989 seems about right because I had a 84XXXXX series 16030 with closed numbers....must have been one o the first ones to switch over.

Service part


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[hunterp27]

I actually had a two tone DJ that dated mid eighties but had closed digits. I guess that means it had a service dial? It was the first Rolex I ever paid for with my own money. My first was a gift from ole pops.

[Juggernaut]

I can't imagine date wheels ever needing to be changed during a routine service....my guess is that the transition period between closed and open dates was quite a while as they slowly used up the older open wheels.

[Old Expat Beast]

Originally Posted by Juggernaut

I can't imagine date wheels ever needing to be changed during a routine service....my guess is that the transition period between closed and open dates was quite a while as they slowly used up the older open wheels.

Date wheels are often changed at service. They are considered part of the movement, so RSC doesn't tell you when they do it. I had to get them to put back my old open-numbers wheel on a DJ once when I noticed they had fitted a new closed-numbers one at service.

[crowncollection]

Originally Posted by Juggernaut

I can't imagine date wheels ever needing to be changed during a routine service....my guess is that the transition period between closed and open dates was quite a while as they slowly used up the older open wheels.

It's a cardboard ring with cardboard teeth that are flicked everyday by steel components, they can get discoloured over time and the teeth can wear out and are replaced, we would have no threads about incorrect date-wheels for the period the watch was made if they were never changed lol however seriously, they cost Rolex how much really ? a dollar, my father worked at Rolex as a watchmaker, any wear and they changed them and he can attest to the fact staff did not really think people would be thinking my datewheel is now closed after a service this may devalues my watch 20- 30 years later, same with service disks and hands if they lied a bit old or discoloured Rolex policy is to replace and make the watch look like new if possible, in reality you have a room full of parts drawers watchmakers went to the draws and took out that part number which did not change regardless if it's open or closed ,wheel in the Rolex service manual the parts were sent from Geneva in batches. They Installed a date-wheel, open, closed whatever and depending how busy the service centre was the longer they were still in stock. Only two part numbers Cheers




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[padi56]

Truth be told there is no 100% sure date for the change to any different font on any date wheel nothing is written in stone with Rolex..

[powerfunk]

About two years ago RSC NY replaced the date wheel on an old Air-King-Date for me, and it has open 6's.

The two times RSC changed date wheels on my Tudors, the new wheels had a new blocky thin font.

As Adam mentioned, it's a functional part of the movement and it's a wear item. But the one time I specifically requested not to replace the date wheel (on a 1530) they obliged.

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[SpaceWanderer]

Originally Posted by padi56

Truth be told there is no 100% sure date for the change to any different font on any date wheel nothing is written in stone with Rolex..

I think this is exactly right. If any of you guys remember International Harvester pickups, they didn't even have model years until the late 60s. The just gradually updated things which made for a real nightmare when chasing down parts. With Rolex I think (in addition to the service replacement side) they gradually updated the date wheel model by model. I also think it's possible that the open/closed issue may be related to the dial style, any bezel numerology, etc. Yet another mystery and only the Elves know for sure.

[Old Expat Beast]

Originally Posted by SpaceWanderer

I think this is exactly right. If any of you guys remember International Harvester pickups, they didn't even have model years until the late 60s. The just gradually updated things which made for a real nightmare when chasing down parts. With Rolex I think (in addition to the service replacement side) they gradually updated the date wheel model by model. I also think it's possible that the open/closed issue may be related to the dial style, any bezel numerology, etc. Yet another mystery and only the Elves know for sure.

The first 16700s had open numbers, then became closed early on.

[perpetual92]

Originally Posted by Juggernaut

When did the transition from open date (6's and 9's) wheels to closed date wheels take place on the Datejust? It must have been in the middle of the 160XX run and was transitioned already by the time the sapphire 162XX models were made.

Can anyone confirm this with more info.

Thanks

I bought my TT Datejust in Dec '92. Its serial # indicates it was built that year. It has the 'open' cream colored calendar date wheel and very nice sapphire crystal, of which seems to be of nicer manufacture than the crystals I see coming out now.

[perpetual92]

Originally Posted by crowncollection

It's a cardboard ring with cardboard teeth that are flicked everyday by steel components, they can get discoloured over time and the teeth can wear out and are replaced, we would have no threads about incorrect date-wheels for the period the watch was made if they were never changed lol however seriously, they cost Rolex how much really ? a dollar, my father worked at Rolex as a watchmaker, any wear and they changed them and he can attest to the fact staff did not really think people would be thinking my datewheel is now closed after a service this may devalues my watch 20- 30 years later, same with service disks and hands if they lied a bit old or discoloured Rolex policy is to replace and make the watch look like new if possible, in reality you have a room full of parts drawers watchmakers went to the draws and took out that part number which did not change regardless if it's open or closed ,wheel in the Rolex service manual the parts were sent from Geneva in batches. They Installed a date-wheel, open, closed whatever and depending how busy the service centre was the longer they were still in stock. Only two part numbers Cheers




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The cream colored CR in my '92 datejust is certainly brass or some metal. Defintely is not cardboard !!!!!

[Juggernaut]

Great info guys.
Thanks for the education.