Wrist Game or Crying Shame: Rolex Datejust 16014
Welcome back to Wrist Game or Crying Shame, the regular column that asks you to anoint a currently-available pre-owned watch as hot or not. This week we’re sticking to a classic. Watches from the Rolex 1601 family are a common sight on the pre-loved market. This one’s a clean and crisp option at a good price. But before we get to it, let’s recap last week’s result…
Hola, people. Mike is once again absent, so I’m subbing in for him. This time our American dream is floating around on a cruise ship somewhere. I would tell you where, but due to the amount of Seikos that man carries on his person at any one time, there’s a very real chance I might get him kidnapped. So while Mike enjoys his well-earned break upon the high seas, let’s check in with the Corum Gold Coin watch and see how it’s doing after last week’s contest.
Ouch. The doctors say it’s touch-and-go. A 64% beat down is hard to come back from. Let’s hope the little guy pulls through, but right now it’s looking sketchy. With one former “classic’s” reputation clinging to life on a ventilator, let’s turn our attention to this smart Rolex for this week’s debate.
Old school Datejusts
So, I’ve never owned a Rolex, but I’ve always wanted one. Obviously, as a sports and divers’ watch fanatic, I’ve favored models like the Sub or the GMT Master II when I’ve allowed myself to dream. But about 18 months ago, I started finding myself drawn to old school Datejusts. It coincided with me writing a lot more about the brand and its history. When one does that — especially on a daily basis — it does something strange to your mind. You start to see these watches in a different way. They start to grow into something else. Before you know it, they’re not even wristwatches anymore. They are icons in the true sense of the word. The Datejust became that to me.
A ton of options
The 1601 family has a ton of options within it. This 16014 is a really great one. Although I always lean towards the bi-color Datejusts myself, I can appreciate the sharpness of this almost-all-steel model (it features a white gold fluted bezel). And the cool things are that it is in excellent condition (as you would want a model of such stark design attributes to be) and, because it is mostly steel, it has a really attractive price.
Is is the status symbol.
But the question is, do you want to be part of that crowd? When I ask myself this question, I can hear myself answering in two totally different tones of voices, expressing totally different points of view. Yes, the Rolex Datejust is a stone-cold classic. It is luxury watchmaking. It is the status symbol. And it is, underneath all the pomp and circumstance, a great watch.
On the other side of the fence, I can hear myself grumbling: Yeah, but it’s so boring. I don’t want a watch that is better known as a status symbol than it is as a watch. There are loads of “better” watches…
A reliable purchase
While the availability of the 1601 family means these Rolex Datejusts don’t fetch crazy money on the resale market, it is unlikely to actually lose a huge amount of value any time soon. That is entirely predicated on Rolex’s ability/decision to supply the models people actually want to buy over the next few years. Assuming nothing changes for the foreseeable, and you want a subtle, stylish, eminently respectable daily wear, this Rolex Datejust 16014 in stainless steel with a white gold bezel looks a good buy at just €3,866. But can you get over its widespread — and I mean widespread — popularity? Hit us up with your thoughts in the comments section below. And don’t forget to vote! Check out this model on Chrono24.
