The Rolex Datejust II 116300 is the ultimate contemporary daily wear. Released in 2009, Rolex took all of the elements that made the original Datejust great – and then made them outstanding. The Datejust II is every bit as useful for older and younger men as it is for women looking for a larger watch with wrist presence.
Let’s take a closer look at the Rolex Datejust II 116300:
The original vs. the new kid on the block
There’s no mistaking it – the original Datejust was a classic. However, as time has worn on and watch styles have changed, the original has a dated look compared to its’ competitors. Rolex introduced the Datejust II back in 2009, and it has all of the charm of the original mixed with the best parts of their newer sports watches like the Daytona and Submariner.
When you take a look at the Datejust II, the immediate reaction will be how souped up this watch looks. At 41mm, it is much more in line with the larger, sturdier watch models that are consistently produced today.
The dial is much larger than the original Datejust’s (which only had a 36mm case). This gives more room for the Datejust II’s best feature: the Cyclops lens. The increased real estate on the dial allows the 116300 to have better proportions between the Cyclops over the date, the hour markings, and the Caliber crown at 12:00 o’clock. The increase in size also creates a much better wrist presence and readability than its’ smaller predecessor.
The bracelet
As many remember, the original Datejust mostly used the “Jubilee” bracelet. In comparison with the newer Oyster bracelet, the Jubilee didn’t have the secure and sturdy feel of the Oyster’s milled clasp. The newer clasp is made completely from one piece of steel, which gives the Datejust II a secure “pop” when closed.
On the steel – Rolex uses 904l stainless steel made from their own foundry. The 904l holds a polish much better than the standard 316 steel used by competitors. Rolex felt so strongly about 904L that they opted to make it on their own. That says something coming from one of the most innovative watch companies in history.
In addition to great materials and a strong clasp, the Oyster bracelet uses the Rolex “Easylink” extension, which allows 5mm of adjustments in both directions to avoid removing clasps!
When you spend good money on a fine watch, you definitely don’t want to worry about it staying on your wrist every day or holding its’ polish. You won’t have to worry about that at all with the Datejust II.
The technical specs
MODEL CASE – Oyster, 41 mm, steel
OYSTER ARCHITECTURE -Monobloc middle case, screw-down case back and winding crown
DIAMETER – 41 mm
MATERIAL – 904L steel
BEZEL – Smooth
WINDING CROWN – Screw-down, Twinlock double waterproofness system
CRYSTAL – Scratch-resistant sapphire, Cyclops lens over the date
WATER-RESISTANCE – Waterproof to 100 metres / 330 feet
MOVEMENT – Perpetual, mechanical, self-winding
CALIBRE – 3136, Manufacture Rolex
PRECISION – -2/+2 sec/day, after casing
FUNCTIONS – Centre hour, minute and seconds hands. Instantaneous date with rapid setting. Stop-seconds for precise time setting
OSCILLATOR – Paramagnetic blue Parachrom hairspring. High-performance Paraflex shock absorbers
WINDING – Bidirectional self-winding via Perpetual rotor
POWER RESERVE – Approximately 48 hours
BRACELET – Oyster, flat three-piece links
BRACELET MATERIAL – 904L steel
CLASP – Folding Oysterclasp with Easylink 5 mm comfort extension link
- DIAL – Silver
- CERTIFICATION – Superlative Chronometer (COSC + Rolex certification after casing)
Final thoughts
Like we mentioned earlier – the Datejust II is the perfect daily wear. It’s large enough to give a great wrist presence while being comfortable and wearing small enough to fit a range of activities. This is the watch for the guy that wants a subtle Rolex that won’t draw too much attention, but is still bold enough to be noticed. We also think it’s a great watch for women that like larger styles over smaller models.
If you are interested in purchasing your own Rolex Datejust II 116300, give us a call or fill out the contact form below. Check out our Facebook page for box openings and watch reviews by our in-house watch expert Sergio Nuncio!
