Red flags Datejust 16220?

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kwh81

·Jun 22, 2025

Hello all! I came across this watch on a local online marketplace and I am trying to figure out if this would be a one to go after. There is only this one photo of it, I asked the seller to send more but haven't received any yet. Do you see anything off with it? From what I researched the text Swiss Made indicates it should have been produced in 2000's and should have super-luminova. Bezel and the texts look ok to me. If there is no abvious reason to believe it's fake or franken I guess I could meet the seller at a watchmaker to see up close.

It's a private seller, asking price is 3500€.

Thank you in advance for any assistance!

Ps. I changed the picture (cropped from ad) to a one without enhancing sharpness wich caused blurring of the texts.

Edited: Jun 22, 2025

 

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vibe

·Jun 22, 2025

Looks too modern for an engine turned bezel but, it is an engine turned reference. Not sure when they discontinued them. Must be the tail end of the production. To me, engine turned and stick markers looks more classic. You’re gonna need more than one picture to judge authenticity though.

 

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Dan S

·Jun 22, 2025

Not sure why you mentioned super-luminova, I don't see any lume at all.

 

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kwh81

·Jun 22, 2025

vibe

Looks too modern for an engine turned bezel but, it is an engine turned reference. Not sure when they discontinued them. Must be the tail end of the production. To me, engine turned and stick markers looks more classic. You’re gonna need more than one picture to judge authenticity though.

Yeah, I thought it looked really modern too but then I read somewhere that these were made until 2004. I don't mind that it's not the classic look but just need to see if it's legit. I think the dial looks good not just sure if it's right for this ref. Date numbers look ok and the placing in the middle of the date window seems good.

 

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kwh81

·Jun 22, 2025

Dan S

Not sure why you mentioned super-luminova, I don't see any lume at all.

Yes, I tried too but couldn't. Should there be though? It was just a take on the Swiss Made text which I read to start at the same time as super-luminova to figure out the production time..

 

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Larry S

·Jun 22, 2025·Color Commentator for the Hyperbole.

I had another inquiry today requiring book access so checked my Rolex book. I’d not buy this without confirmation of reference, and more clear shots including movement. This model was made in huge numbers and dial orthodoxy is compromised by the huge options for customization. All this said, it’s a probable OK. Cal 3135 and engine turned Bezel.

Edited: Jun 22, 2025

 

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kwh81

·Jun 23, 2025

Thank you very much for helping! I'll try to arrange for the seller to meet me at a watchmaker to remove the bracelet and to open it so I can confirm ref. & serial nr.

Have a great day everyone!

 

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blueteg

·Jun 24, 2025

kwh81

There is only this one photo of it, I asked the seller to send more but haven't received any yet.

Have you received any other photos of it? I would also ask for photos of the inside of the clasp to see the engravings.

kwh81

. From what I researched the text Swiss Made indicates it should have been produced in 2000's and should have super-luminova

Normally, yes, that's correct. But the roman dial 16220 is a bit different since it doesn't have any lume. So the T Swiss Made T vs. Swiss Made identifier doesn't necessarily help date the watch. For instance, I currently have a T-serial 16220 (blue roman dial) and that dial is "Swiss Made". I also had an A-serial dial (also roman numerals) and that one was also stamped on the bottom, "Swiss Made"

Photo of my 16220 to assist with comparing fonts, etc

Edited: Jun 24, 2025

 

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Dan S

·Jun 24, 2025

kwh81

Yes, I tried too but couldn't. Should there be though? It was just a take on the Swiss Made text which I read to start at the same time as super-luminova to figure out the production time..

This is a no-lume dial and handset. Period. If you want to know the year of production, just look at the serial number.

 

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Larry S

·Jun 25, 2025·Color Commentator for the Hyperbole.

To put a finer point on what @Dan S just posted…..”Swiss Made T" on a watch dial indicates the watch is made in Switzerland and uses a radioactive luminescent material called tritium in its luminous paint. Specifically, the "T" signifies the presence of tritium, and the "Swiss Made" part confirms the watch's Swiss origin. The "T" can be before, after, or both before and after "Swiss Made," depending on the specific watch. Watches with tritium markings were common from the 1960s to the late 1990s. “

 

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Dan S

·Jun 25, 2025

Larry S

To put a finer point on what @Dan S just posted…..”Swiss Made T" on a watch dial indicates the watch is made in Switzerland and uses a radioactive luminescent material called tritium in its luminous paint. Specifically, the "T" signifies the presence of tritium, and the "Swiss Made" part confirms the watch's Swiss origin. The "T" can be before, after, or both before and after "Swiss Made," depending on the specific watch. Watches with tritium markings were common from the 1960s to the late 1990s. “

And to make things even more complicated, some Rolex dials with "T" were not lumed, often for the Asian market. Very thrifty people, the Swiss.

 

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kwh81

·Jun 25, 2025

blueteg

Have you received any other photos of it? I would also ask for photos of the inside of the clasp to see the engravings.

The seller doesn't seem to know how to sell a watch. I did receive useless photos of the baracelet and the clasp and one that he says is from the pawn shop when he bought it:

 

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kwh81

·Jun 25, 2025

I don't think the seller is disgenuine in any way. I just think he doesn't have information about the watch and is unable to remove the bracelet and the back.

 

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kwh81

·Jun 25, 2025

The seller did agree to meet at a watchmaker to check the watch, but I found out that local independet Rolex shop doesn't do that because they sell used watches themselves (conflicting interest) and the AD takes them in for 2-3 days to assess them.

 

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blueteg

·Jun 25, 2025

kwh81

I did receive useless photos of the baracelet and the clasp and one that he says is from the pawn shop when he bought it:

To clarify, you believe he works at a pawn shop, or he purchased the watch from a pawn shop?

 

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kwh81

·Jun 25, 2025

I'm now just asking for him to meet at any jeweller to check ref. & serial and to look at the movement. I don't know anything about those so maybe I can take a few pictures and ask the knowledgeble members here to help analyze them.

blueteg

To clarify, you believe he works at a pawn shop, or he purchased the watch from a pawn shop?

Purchased

 

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kwh81

·Jun 26, 2025

Just got some more photos of the watch:

 

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kwh81

·Jun 26, 2025

Still no movement shot but at least he is giving me something. Any comment on these? I think the dial looks very good and I was afraid there was some damage in the dial but I don't see any here. There's obviously the ding in the upper left lug. What do you think about the clasp, is that corrosion on the upper part of the clasp on and around the Rolex text?

 

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Fallout Boy

·Jun 26, 2025

a bite late: the bracelet does IMO have near zero stretch, but that "corrosion" looks strange.

 

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Knebo

·Jun 26, 2025

Fallout Boy

but that "corrosion" looks strange.

I think it's just wrist cheese.

The watch looks fine/legit to me. But nothing will ever be absolutely certain until we get a look on the movement.