Buying a vintage Rolex 16014 Datejust advice

Since your preference seems to be for the black face, let’s deal with that one. I assume the pictures are from the seller. Several things jump out at me. The recess where the case back gasket fits is either dirty, or the black In the bottom of the recess is corrosion. If it is dirt, why would the watch be presented that way? If it is corrosion, you should probably walk away. The rotor arbor has been dragging on both the inner case back (plating worn off the head of one of the three rivets on the rotor), but also on the bridge over the self wind components as indicated by the plating worn off. These wear points are only the wear points that can be easily seen. Worn mainspring barrel bearings, worn mainspring barrel arbor bearings, worn balance staff pivots. These are only a few of the areas that should be checked over before you lay out your money. About adjusting the bracelet size to a woman’s wrist. Between the removable links, and the adjustment in the buckle, can the watch be adjusted to fit her? If the life expectancy of this watch is, say, 30 years, reasonably, how do you feel about it already being half used up?

Knowing what I know about Rolex, I would walk on either of these two. Should you walk away on either of these? That depends on your expectations, and the price of the watch. You mentioned it is a 40-year old watch. How many un-used miles remain in the watch, do you suppose? I would suggest you ask for a detailed report on what his watchmaker replaced when he serviced the watch. To clean a watch movement and re-cycle the original worn parts is a job half done. These watches appear to both have the older calibre 3035 movement, and acrylic crystals. You might be better off going for the newer Date-Just with the calibre 3135 movement, and the sapphire crystal. Chances are it wouldn’t have the mileage on it that either of the subject watches appear to have on them. The extra cost might well be worth it.

These watches both have the Jubilee bracelet on them. What doesn’t show in the pictures is the amount of wear of the links in the bracelets. You don’t seem to be concerned as to whether these bracelets could be sized down to fit a woman’s wrist. It depends on her wrist size, but fitting the watch to her could be a concern.

In short, With those cases corroded the way they appear to be, can either of them be properly sealed?

If you don’t buy new at least buy newer. You pay either by depreciation or by repairs. But either way you pay. Rolex watches don’t last forever, and you have to wonder how much longer a 40 year old one is going to last, and how much it will cost you to keep it running long past it’s best before date.

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