An automatic stainless steel and eighteen carat gold Rolex Oyster Perpetual Datejust reference 16233 model. This example has a stunning black dial with gilt print.  Perhaps one of the most iconic combinations in Rolex history, harking back to the 1950's and '60's sport watches.  The dial configuration is very typically Datejust; stick markers, baton hands.  There is the addition of the small printed Roman numerals in the chapter ring providing a small level of detail.  This dial is very special when under very strong direct sunlight, or bright light it is turning a stunning coppery brown.  This, I am sure, will continue as the dial ages in natural light.  It will become "tropical", it would appear.  Something to enjoy in the future as the watch ages.

The watch comes on a two tone Rolex Jubilee style stainless steel. The  classic coin edge bezel is also in eighteen carat  yellow gold.  This has the more modern case  where  the lug holes are now concealed. Known as the "No holes" case. This was an improvement that Rolex made to the case toward the end of the 1990's, making this an early iteration of this case. 

This dial is marked "T Swiss Made T", meaning that this dial has applied Tritium luminous material applied to it.  This is one of the last years of production of Tritium dials before they switched over to Luminova.  Just like radium, tritium was also radioactive; however, it came with a much lower level of radiation and a much shorter half-life. While tritium was exponentially safer than radium, it only had a half-life of twelve years. This meant that after just a few decades, only a tiny fraction of the initial luminescence would remain. Additionally, as tritium ages, the color changes, which creates often beautiful, and highly sought after patinas on the luminous markers on these older Rolex watches. Tritium was far from perfect, which led Rolex to search for a better alternative. The answer came during the 1990’s, from a Japanese company called Nemoto and Co., which specialized in producing luminous paint. Their new compound, called Luminova, was photoluminescent rather than radioactive, making it entirely harmless. Additionally, it was not prone to fading or discoloration like its predecessor, tritium. Luminova was far superior to tritium, and by 1998, Rolex began using it on their watches. These now rare and collectible, as the production run was around two years, and are marked simply "Swiss". By 2000, Rolex had switched to Super Luminova, as presented here. A slightly improved version of Luminova that was sold through a different supplier. These dials were marked "Swiss Made", again like this one presented here. Being that this watch was made in 2000, it is one of the first batch of the Super Luminova dials. In 2008, Rolex announced a switch from Super Luminova to its own proprietary compound, Chromalight. Like its predecessor, Chromalight is photo-luminescent and entirely safe; however, Chromalight differs in that it glows blue rather than green. Rolex states that Chromalight starts glowing more quickly and lasts longer than Super Luminova, and that the blue color makes it easier to for human eyes to read in dim lighting. Beyond that, Chromalight gives modern Rolex a distinctive appearance in dark settings, and brings yet another aspect of their production process in-house. So that is what makes a Rolex glow in the dark.

The watch is powered by a Rolex, Swiss made, thirty-one jewel automatic calibre 3135 movement that powered the majority of all Rolex models since its launch in 1988, from the Datejust to the Submariner. These later models can be identified as they do not have the earlier, characteristic, 'pie pan' style dial. This model also comes with the more ergonomic 'Quick Set' date function, and the newly designed smaller profile case, all of which were introduced in the 1970's.

The watch was made circa 1999 with serial number A119XXX . The watch is in original condition, appearing to be unpolished.  The term "full set" is used to describe watches that come with their   original warranty paperwork.  However, this is as complete a "full set" as can be found; wax seal tag, Rolex green tag with corresponding serial number, the factory service brochure, Datejust brochure, Oyster brochure, outer box, inner wooden box, warranty paperwork and even the original bill of sale from 2000!  A very rare complete set indeed.  The watch  comes with a Foundwell one year warranty against mechanical failure.