Rolex Datejust 36 Yellow Gold — Fluted Bezel Black Jubilee Diamond Dial | Ref. 116238

Reference 116238 is the full yellow gold Datejust 36 equipped with the fluted bezel and a black dial set with diamond hour indices on the Jubilee bracelet — a configuration that distils the essence of classical Rolex watchmaking into a single, confident statement. The 116xxx reference range corresponds to the pre-3235 generation of Datejust 36, making this an example of the mature 3135-powered era before Rolex's 2016 platform overhaul, a period that collectors regard with considerable affection.

Calibre 3135 provides the movement — Rolex's workhorse perpetual calibre that has underpinned the Datejust, Submariner, and numerous other references for over three decades. Beating at 28,800 vph with a Parachrom hairspring, the 3135 is COSC-certified and capable of a 48-hour power reserve. The 18 ct yellow gold case, with its characteristic polished finish, is complemented by the fluted bezel whose facets catch light at every angle. Diamond hour markers on the black dial introduce gemological depth to the otherwise typographically clean layout, and the Cyclops lens over the date aperture ensures legibility at a glance.

For the collector, 116238 in this configuration represents the full-gold Datejust at its most traditional: a watch that has been ordered by bankers, statesmen, and inheritors of taste for generations. Its relatively accessible position in the Rolex gold hierarchy — below the Day-Date but above Rolesor configurations — makes it a practical entry point into solid-gold Rolex ownership. Strong aftermarket demand from buyers seeking 36 mm full-gold references with factory diamond dials underpins consistent secondary-market value.