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Rolex Datejust Ref. 16220 'Silver Stick' Dial 1989 w/ Box & Papers

Rolex Datejust Ref. 16220 'Silver Stick' Dial 1989 w/ Box & Papers

$10,950.00 NZD

The Rolex Datejust Ref. 16220 is the stainless steel expression of the Datejust at its most resolved — produced from 1988 through to 2000, and housing the Caliber. 3135 in what remains one of the most capable and reliable movements Rolex has produced. At 36mm, with an engine turned bezel and the clean proportions that have defined the Datejust across seven decades, the 16220 occupies a position of quiet authority in the Rolex catalogue that time has only reinforced.

This example was manufactured in 1989 and sold in 1992 by a New Zealand authorised dealer — a detail the original papers confirm, and one that grounds this watch in local history. It has since been fully serviced by Rolex Japan, with warranty running until September 2026, and is presented alongside one of the most complete box and paper groupings the reference is likely to offer. A thoroughly documented Datejust, in excellent post-service condition, with a provenance story that holds together at every point.

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Rolex Datejust Ref. 16220 'Silver Stick' Dial 1989 w/ Box & Papers
Rolex Datejust Ref. 16220 'Silver Stick' Dial 1989 w/ Box & Papers
Rolex Datejust Ref. 16220 'Silver Stick' Dial 1989 w/ Box & Papers
Rolex Datejust Ref. 16220 'Silver Stick' Dial 1989 w/ Box & Papers
Rolex Datejust Ref. 16220 'Silver Stick' Dial 1989 w/ Box & Papers
Rolex Datejust Ref. 16220 'Silver Stick' Dial 1989 w/ Box & Papers
Rolex Datejust Ref. 16220 'Silver Stick' Dial 1989 w/ Box & Papers
Rolex Datejust Ref. 16220 'Silver Stick' Dial 1989 w/ Box & Papers
Rolex Datejust Ref. 16220 'Silver Stick' Dial 1989 w/ Box & Papers
Rolex Datejust Ref. 16220 'Silver Stick' Dial 1989 w/ Box & Papers
Rolex Datejust Ref. 16220 'Silver Stick' Dial 1989 w/ Box & Papers
Rolex Datejust Ref. 16220 'Silver Stick' Dial 1989 w/ Box & Papers
Rolex Datejust Ref. 16220 'Silver Stick' Dial 1989 w/ Box & Papers
Rolex Datejust Ref. 16220 'Silver Stick' Dial 1989 w/ Box & Papers
Rolex Datejust Ref. 16220 'Silver Stick' Dial 1989 w/ Box & Papers
Rolex Datejust Ref. 16220 'Silver Stick' Dial 1989 w/ Box & Papers
Rolex Datejust Ref. 16220 'Silver Stick' Dial 1989 w/ Box & Papers
Rolex Datejust Ref. 16220 'Silver Stick' Dial 1989 w/ Box & Papers
Rolex Datejust Ref. 16220 'Silver Stick' Dial 1989 w/ Box & Papers
Rolex Datejust Ref. 16220 'Silver Stick' Dial 1989 w/ Box & Papers
Rolex Datejust Ref. 16220 'Silver Stick' Dial 1989 w/ Box & Papers
Rolex Datejust Ref. 16220 'Silver Stick' Dial 1989 w/ Box & Papers
Rolex Datejust Ref. 16220 'Silver Stick' Dial 1989 w/ Box & Papers
Rolex Datejust Ref. 16220 'Silver Stick' Dial 1989 w/ Box & Papers
Rolex Datejust Ref. 16220 'Silver Stick' Dial 1989 w/ Box & Papers
Rolex Datejust Ref. 16220 'Silver Stick' Dial 1989 w/ Box & Papers
Rolex Datejust Ref. 16220 'Silver Stick' Dial 1989 w/ Box & Papers
Rolex Datejust Ref. 16220 'Silver Stick' Dial 1989 w/ Box & Papers
Rolex Datejust Ref. 16220 'Silver Stick' Dial 1989 w/ Box & Papers
Rolex Datejust Ref. 16220 'Silver Stick' Dial 1989 w/ Box & Papers
Rolex Datejust Ref. 16220 'Silver Stick' Dial 1989 w/ Box & Papers
Rolex Datejust Ref. 16220 'Silver Stick' Dial 1989 w/ Box & Papers
Rolex Datejust Ref. 16220 'Silver Stick' Dial 1989 w/ Box & Papers
Rolex Datejust Ref. 16220 'Silver Stick' Dial 1989 w/ Box & Papers
Rolex Datejust Ref. 16220 'Silver Stick' Dial 1989 w/ Box & Papers
Rolex Datejust Ref. 16220 'Silver Stick' Dial 1989 w/ Box & Papers
Rolex Datejust Ref. 16220 'Silver Stick' Dial 1989 w/ Box & Papers
Rolex Datejust Ref. 16220 'Silver Stick' Dial 1989 w/ Box & Papers
Rolex Datejust Ref. 16220 'Silver Stick' Dial 1989 w/ Box & Papers
Rolex Datejust Ref. 16220 'Silver Stick' Dial 1989 w/ Box & Papers
Rolex Datejust Ref. 16220 'Silver Stick' Dial 1989 w/ Box & Papers
Rolex Datejust Ref. 16220 'Silver Stick' Dial 1989 w/ Box & Papers
Rolex Datejust Ref. 16220 'Silver Stick' Dial 1989 w/ Box & Papers
Rolex Datejust Ref. 16220 'Silver Stick' Dial 1989 w/ Box & Papers
Rolex Datejust Ref. 16220 'Silver Stick' Dial 1989 w/ Box & Papers
Rolex Datejust Ref. 16220 'Silver Stick' Dial 1989 w/ Box & Papers
Rolex Datejust Ref. 16220 'Silver Stick' Dial 1989 w/ Box & Papers
Rolex Datejust Ref. 16220 'Silver Stick' Dial 1989 w/ Box & Papers

The Rolex Datejust Ref. 16220 is the stainless steel expression of the Datejust at its most resolved — produced from 1988 through to 2000, and housing the Caliber. 3135 in what remains one of the most capable and reliable movements Rolex has produced. At 36mm, with an engine turned bezel and the clean proportions that have defined the Datejust across seven decades, the 16220 occupies a position of quiet authority in the Rolex catalogue that time has only reinforced.

This example was manufactured in 1989 and sold in 1992 by a New Zealand authorised dealer — a detail the original papers confirm, and one that grounds this watch in local history. It has since been fully serviced by Rolex Japan, with warranty running until September 2026, and is presented alongside one of the most complete box and paper groupings the reference is likely to offer. A thoroughly documented Datejust, in excellent post-service condition, with a provenance story that holds together at every point.

  • Details

    • Maker

      Rolex

    • Model

      Datejust

    • Reference

      16220

    • Year

      1989

    • Serial

      L25XXXX

    • Box & Papers

      Papers: Yes (dated 1995); Box: No

    • Movement

      Caliber. 3135, automatic w/ 48-hour power reserve & quickset date

    • Dial & Hands

      Silver stick dial w/ 18k white gold hour markers & tritium lume; baton hands w/ tritium lume

    • Bezel

      Engine turned, stainless steel

    • Crystal

      Sapphire

    • Bracelet/Strap

      Jubilee 62510H bracelet w/ 21 links, stainless steel

    • Performance

      Watch is fully functioning and running at -1 second per day

  • Dimensions
    • Diameter: 36mm
    • Thickness: 11mm
    • Lug width: 20mm
    • Lug-to-lug: 46mm

  • Materials

    Stainless steel

  • This example has been fully serviced by Rolex Japan — not an independent watchmaker, but Rolex's own service centre — with warranty running until September 2026. The movement has been restored to factory specification, the case polished to Rolex's own standard, and the watch returned with a full service package. For the buyer who values the assurance of manufacturer service history, this is as well-documented as a pre-owned Rolex of this age can be
  • The box and paper grouping is among the most complete we have encountered for the Ref. 16220 — original papers dated 1992 from a New Zealand authorised dealer, inner and outer box marked for the reference, calendar card, green cardholder, red Chronometer swing tag, three booklets, and the full Rolex Japan service documentation
  • The papers confirm this watch was sold by a New Zealand authorised dealer in 1992 — a detail that places it within a specific and traceable local history, and one that is increasingly uncommon in the secondary market for references of this period. For the New Zealand collector in particular, that provenance carries a particular resonance

All watches are shipped free of charge by New Zealand Post (overnight), Urgent Couriers (same day) within New Zealand, or DHL Express (2-7 business days) for the rest of the world.

Packages strictly require a signature for delivery and are insured for their full value unless otherwise stated. Visit Shipping & Postage for more information.

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Please contact us for our bank details if you would like to pay via bank transfer for international or domestic transfers. You can also complete your purchase via our online checkout and select 'Bank/Wire Transfer'.

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Servicing Warranty

Buy in confidence with our 3-month servicing warranty on all watches that have been listed on the website for sale.

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After Sale Service

If you need the watch to be serviced, want to add on a strap or have any questions, we are always here to help.

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Condition
Report

Overall, the watch is in excellent condition. The silver dial presents beautifully — clean and well-preserved, with the applied hour markers intact and the dial surface free from blemishes. The original tritium lume is present throughout, having lost its glow with age as expected, and the dial shows only minimal wear consistent with careful ownership across its life. The baton hands remain correct for the reference. The sapphire crystal is clean, with only very minor wear present.

The 36mm stainless steel case was polished during the Rolex Japan service and presents accordingly — the lines are excellent and the factory proportions are well-retained, a testament to the quality of Rolex's own service work. Only very minor hairline scratches are present post-service, consistent with light wear since its return. The smooth bezel is sharp. The crown winds smoothly and the quickset date function operates correctly.

The Jubilee 62510H bracelet carries an O clasp code dating to 1990 — consistent with the watch's manufacture date and indicative of an early period bracelet fitting. Some sag is present across 21 links including endlinks, consistent with age. The clasp closes securely and functions correctly throughout.

Mechanically, the Caliber 3135 automatic movement is running at -1 second per day following its Rolex Japan service — well within specification and covered by Rolex warranty until September 2026. The watch is accompanied by its complete original documentation alongside the full Rolex Japan service package.

Rolex Datejust
History

Few watches in horological history have achieved what the Rolex Datejust has — a design so perfectly balanced that it has remained virtually unchanged since its introduction in 1945, yet never once felt dated. That's not a coincidence; it's a masterclass in design. The options of fluted or smooth bezel, the Jubilee or Oyster bracelet, the cyclops lens magnifying the date — every element was considered, and the result is a watch that simply works, decade after decade.

What makes the Datejust so compelling is its versatile nature. Pair it with a double-breasted suit for a board meeting, throw it on with a linen shirt at a summer lunch, or wear it grocery shopping in sweatpants — it never looks out of place, and it never looks like it's trying too hard. That kind of effortless adaptability is extraordinarily rare in a watch, and it's why the Datejust has been worn by heads of state and everyday people alike for nearly eighty years.

Our personal opinion? A Datejust is an absolute essential. The older references — particularly the 1601, 1603, and later the 160XX and 162XX — carry a warmth and character that modern pieces, as accomplished as they are, simply can't replicate. The patina on an aged dial, the softness of a well-worn jubilee bracelet, the subtle variations between production years — these are the details that transform a watch from a timekeeping instrument into something with genuine soul. And from a value perspective, vintage Datejusts remain one of the most accessible entry points into serious Rolex collecting, offering authenticity and history at a fraction of the price of newer references.

That said, the modern Datejust absolutely earns its place in any collection too. The current references — the 41mm 1263XX or the 36mm 1262XX — bring Rolex's latest movement technology, improved water resistance, and a refinement in finishing that is hard to fault. But perhaps more importantly, the modern Datejust is a watch you can live with every single day without a second thought. It's robust, accurate, and requires almost no attention — qualities that make it one of the strongest candidates for a one-watch collection. If you're the kind of person who wants a single watch that handles every occasion, every environment, and every decade of your life without missing a beat, the modern Datejust makes a compelling case for itself.

Whether you're buying your first Rolex or your fifteenth, the Datejust belongs in the conversation — and more often than not, it belongs on your wrist.

If you'd like to go deeper on why this watch is so special, read our full article here: Why The Rolex Datejust Is Perfection.