Rolex Datejust Yellow Rolesor — Cut Diamond Bezel Champagne Index Dial | Ref. 116243

Reference 116243 is one of the most celebrated expressions of the 36 mm Datejust in Yellow Rolesor — Rolex's combination of 18 ct yellow gold and Oystersteel that has defined dress sport watch aesthetics for decades. The champagne index dial paired with a diamond-set bezel achieves a warm, celebratory register entirely in keeping with the Datejust's heritage as Rolex's original date-displaying wristwatch, unveiled in 1945 at the Geneva Jubilee.

At its heart sits the Calibre 3135, Rolex's foundational self-winding movement featuring a paramagnetic blue Parachrom hairspring, bidirectional Perpetual rotor, and Rolex's integrated quickset date mechanism — setting the standard against which rival manufacture movements are still measured. With a 48-hour power reserve and a COSC chronometric rating of -2/+4 seconds per day, the 3135 offers long-term service intervals and exceptional reliability. The 36 mm Oyster case is water-resistant to 100 metres, the fluted gold bezel providing both structural and decorative purpose.

The 116243 occupies an important position in the pre-2021 Datejust lineage, representing the 36 mm reference before Rolex transitioned to the 126200 and 126233 numbering. Its Yellow Rolesor construction, champagne dial, and diamond bezel remain a touchstone of 2000s Rolex aesthetics, sought by collectors who appreciate the warmth and opulence of yellow gold two-tone without the full commitment of a solid gold case. Well-preserved examples with intact bezels and original dials are increasingly desirable as the reference recedes further from production.