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1987 Rolex Datejust 36 16013 – Two-Tone Rare Mocha Dial

Details

A Distinctive Departure From The Standard Champagne

The 16013 is the gold standard for a two tone Datejust, but most examples from this era are found with the common champagne dial. This piece features a Mocha dial that completely shifts the personality of the watch. It provides a warmer and more modern contrast against the yellow gold fluted bezel and two tone case. It is a configuration that feels intentional rather than a default choice.

The Peak Of The Quickset Era

By 1987, the Datejust had reached a high point of utility with the inclusion of the quickset date. This reference represents the ideal middle ground for many collectors. It maintains the classic look of an acrylic crystal while offering the convenience of a modern movement. It is a watch rooted in the history of the first self-winding chronometer to feature a date, yet it remains perfectly functional for a modern lifestyle.

Exceptional Preservation And Mechanical Health

This example is in very good condition for its age. The Mocha dial is perfect and shows no signs of degradation. The matching Jubilee bracelet is notably tight with almost no sag, which is a rare find for a gold and steel combination from the late eighties. The case retains its correct lines and the crystal is clear. Mechanically, the watch is running strong after passing our test bench.

A Sophisticated Daily Choice

This is for the person who wants the presence of a gold and steel Rolex but wants to separate themselves from the most common models. The Mocha tone adds a level of sophistication that pairs well with current styles. It stays true to the heritage of the Datejust while offering a visual point of difference that you do not see every day. It is a reliable and distinctive choice for a primary watch.

 

 

Key Specs

Reference: 16013

Model: Datejust 36

Year: 1987 (9.4M Serial)

Movement: Automatic (Quickset)

Case Size: 36mm

Bezel: 18K YG Fluted

Bracelet: Jubilee (Two-Tone)

Dial: Mocha

Wrist Size: 6–6.75in

Metal: Stainless Steel & Yellow Gold

SKU: 514

History

Introduced in 1945 to mark Rolex's 40th anniversary, the Datejust was the first self-winding, waterproof wristwatch to display the date in a window at 3 o'clock. The name said everything: the date, just there, automatically.

The watch debuted alongside the Jubilee bracelet — a five-piece link design created specifically for the occasion and still one of the most copied bracelet patterns in watchmaking. Later iterations added the iconic cyclops lens, magnifying the date 2.5x directly above the aperture, a detail so practical it became a Rolex signature.

Over the decades the Datejust evolved through generations of references — from the early 1600-series with engine-turned bezels to the 1603 in yellow gold, the 16013 and 16030 two-tones of the 1980s, the 16233 and 116233 of the 1990s and 2000s — yet the core proposition never changed: a 36mm case, an automatic movement, and a date that flips at midnight.

It's the Swiss watch equivalent of a white oxford shirt. Timeless in steel, versatile in two-tone, proper in solid gold. Collectors prize the earlier sigma-dial examples for their textural richness; later smooth-dialed pieces wear as effortlessly today as they did the day they left Geneva. Few references have ever achieved this level of consistency across six decades of production.