Whether you want to sell Rolex Datejust watches now or simply understand what yours is worth, you are in the right place. The Datejust is the Rolex we see in the widest variety, and we buy it in every size and metal: the 41mm 126300, 126334 and 126331, the 36mm 126234 and 126231, the 31mm 278274, and older favourites such as the 16233, 116233 and the 26mm 69173. Wimbledon, fluted, diamond-set or plain steel, we would like to see it.
We buy outright for our own stock, so there is no commission and nothing is deducted from the agreed figure. The valuation is free, insured postage or collection is on us, and once the price is agreed and the watch is authenticated, you are paid by secure bank transfer within 24 hours.
How to sell Rolex Datejust watches to Kings & Queens
- Tell us about your Datejust. The size, the reference if you have it, the dial, the bracelet and whether the box and papers are still with it. A few photographs on WhatsApp are the quickest way to an initial figure, though you can begin without them.
- Hear our offer. We base it on what your exact Datejust, with its bezel, dial and bracelet, is achieving on the pre-owned market now, and we explain the reasoning.
- See us or send it free. Visit our Hatton Garden showroom by appointment, or we will arrange fully insured postage or collection at our expense.
- Paid within 24 hours. When the watch has been checked and authenticated in person and you accept the offer, we pay by secure bank transfer within 24 hours.
Get a valuation for your Rolex Datejust
What affects what your Datejust is worth
Because the Datejust comes in so many combinations, the details matter more than the name. These are the points that shape the figure when you sell Rolex Datejust models.
Size. The 41mm, 36mm, 31mm and older 26mm models each appeal to a different buyer, and each is priced on its own terms. We value the size you have, not a general idea of "a Datejust".
Metal and bezel. A steel Datejust with a smooth bezel, a white Rolesor model with a fluted white gold bezel, and an Everose or yellow Rolesor watch are all different propositions. Factory diamond bezels, marked RBR in the reference, are valued separately again.
Dial. The Datejust has been offered in more dials than almost any other Rolex. Wimbledon, mint green, blue, palm motif, fluted motif and diamond-set dials each have their own following, and popularity shifts over time. Our figure reflects current demand, not last year's.
Bracelet. Many references have been made on both the Jubilee and the Oyster bracelet, and buyers often have a firm preference. We check the stretch between links and the condition of the clasp, and we confirm which bracelet the watch left the factory with.
Generation. Current models with calibre 3235 or 2236 sit apart from earlier references with calibre 3135 or 2135, which are valued on their own merits.
Completeness and service history. The warranty card, boxes, spare links and service papers all count in your favour. If the watch is overdue a service, we can still buy it; our sister business Alpha Group, in the same building, handles servicing and repairs, so we can price the work accurately.
Which Datejust do you have?
If you plan to sell Rolex Datejust watches, the reference is the most useful thing you can give us, because it tells us the size, metal and bezel at a glance. It is printed on the warranty card or certificate, and on modern pieces it is engraved on the case between the lugs at 12 o'clock. Please don't remove the bracelet; the card or a clear photograph of the paperwork is all we need.
| Reference | Size | What sets it apart |
|---|---|---|
| 126300 | 41mm | Oystersteel with a smooth bezel |
| 126334 | 41mm | White Rolesor, with a fluted white gold bezel |
| 126331 | 41mm | Everose Rolesor, combining Oystersteel and Everose gold |
| 126234 and 126231 | 36mm | White Rolesor and Everose Rolesor, each with a fluted bezel |
| 278274 | 31mm | White Rolesor with a fluted white gold bezel |
| 16233 and 116233 | 36mm | Earlier yellow Rolesor generations with calibre 3135 |
| 69173 | 26mm | Lady-Datejust in yellow Rolesor |
Rolex presents the current Datejust range on rolex.com, which is useful for comparing your watch with today's models. If your watch is older or the paperwork is lost, send us photographs of the dial, bezel, clasp and case, and we will identify it for you before you sell Rolex Datejust pieces of any age. Our guide to Rolex reference numbers explains how to read the digits yourself.
Where the Datejust came from
Rolex introduced the Datejust in 1945. It was the first self-winding, waterproof chronometer wristwatch to show the date in a window on the dial, and the Jubilee bracelet was created for it at the same time. The Cyclops lens, which magnifies the date, was added in the early 1950s and has been part of the watch ever since.
For decades the Datejust was a 36mm watch for men and a smaller Lady-Datejust for women. The range has since grown to include the 31mm, the 41mm Datejust II and, from 2016, the Datejust 41. That long history is why owners who sell Rolex Datejust watches can hold anything from a 1980s two-tone to a model bought last year, and why we look at each one on its own merits.
Datejust II or Datejust 41?
Both are 41mm, and they are easy to confuse in photographs. The Datejust II was made from 2009 to 2016, with calibre 3136, a broader bezel and bolder hour markers; references include the 116300, 116333 and 116334. The Datejust 41 replaced it in 2016 with calibre 3235, a slimmer bezel and finer proportions. When you sell Rolex Datejust models in this size, the reference on the card tells us straight away which one you have, and the two are priced separately. You can browse examples in our pre-owned Datejust II collection.
Steel, Rolesor or gold?
Rolex uses the name Rolesor for watches that combine Oystersteel with 18-carat gold. White Rolesor pairs steel with a white gold bezel, and from a distance it can pass for an all-steel watch, so it is worth checking the reference. Yellow and Everose Rolesor add gold to the bezel, crown and centre links of the bracelet. Owners who sell Rolex Datejust watches sometimes describe a white Rolesor model as plain steel, which undersells it. If you are unsure, a photograph of the warranty card answers the question.
Popular dials and special editions
The Wimbledon dial, in slate grey with green Roman numerals, is one of the most recognisable Datejust variations and appears on 41mm and 36mm references, including the 126231. Mint green, blue and the palm motif dial on the 36mm have also found strong followings. Diamond-set dials fitted by Rolex are valued as part of the watch, while stones added later are judged very differently.
When you sell Rolex Datejust models with a less common dial, tell us exactly what you have; a photograph usually settles it. If you are not sure whether the dial is original, say so. We would rather start from an honest description than from an assumption.
Condition: what we check when you sell Rolex Datejust watches
A Datejust is often worn every day for years, and it shows it in the usual places: the polished centre links of the Jubilee, the clasp and the edges of the lugs. That is normal. Heavy polishing is the bigger concern, because it softens the case lines and removes metal that can never be put back. If you are tempted to have it refinished first, please don't.
On fluted bezels we look for knocks to the tips of the ridges, and on smooth bezels for dents. Diamond bezels and dials should have every stone present and secure. We also check the date change, the winding and the Cyclops lens, which can chip at the edges.
Jubilee bracelets in particular tend to stretch with years of wear, because of their many small links. We check the play between them and how firmly the clasp closes, and allow for any repair openly.
Box, papers and original parts
A Datejust with its full set is the version most buyers look for, so it is worth finding everything that came with yours. Receipts and service invoices help too, because they support the watch's history and make our checks quicker. People who sell Rolex Datejust watches with every item present tend to agree a price quickly.
- The warranty card, certificate or older Rolex guarantee papers
- The inner and outer Rolex boxes, booklets and swing tags
- Every spare link removed when the bracelet was sized
- Rolex service papers, and any original parts returned after a service
- The original receipt, if you still have it
Missing items won't stop you if you want to sell Rolex Datejust watches. A watch on its own is still very saleable, especially an older model where paperwork has often gone astray over the years. We will tell you plainly how each missing piece affects the offer. Our guide to box and papers explains why it matters.
Before you sell Rolex Datejust watches: how to prepare
A little preparation makes the first figure firmer and the appointment quicker.
- Leave the case, bezel and bracelet as they are; don't polish anything.
- A soft, dry cloth is all the cleaning the watch needs.
- Photograph the dial, bezel, clasp and paperwork in daylight.
- Note the size, the bracelet type and the reference on the card.
- Gather the boxes, papers, spare links and service records together.
- Remember roughly when the watch was last serviced, and by whom.
Sell Rolex Datejust watches in person in Hatton Garden
Our showroom is at 9 St. Cross Street, Hatton Garden, London EC1N 8UB, an easy walk from Farringdon and Chancery Lane stations. All visits are by appointment, so the meeting is private and unhurried. We are open Monday to Friday from 10:30am to 5:30pm, and on Saturday from 12:00pm to 4:30pm.
At the appointment we examine the watch with you, check the serial number, case markings and movement, and explain what we find. Hatton Garden has been London's jewellery quarter for well over a century, and coming here to sell Rolex Datejust watches means a conversation with a specialist rather than a quick glance across a counter. Read more about visiting our showroom.
Sell Rolex Datejust watches from anywhere in the UK
If you can't come to London, we pay for fully insured postage or collection and explain how to pack the watch so that it arrives safely. Most people who sell Rolex Datejust pieces from outside London start with a few photographs on WhatsApp, so the figure is clear before the watch is sent. Once it has arrived and been authenticated, we confirm the offer and pay you by secure bank transfer within 24 hours.
Sell Rolex Datejust watches privately or to a dealer?
A Datejust is easy to list privately, which is exactly why private sales attract so many time-wasters and opportunists. You may face low offers, requests to meet in unsuitable places and the risk of a fake payment confirmation.
When you sell Rolex Datejust watches to us, you deal with one specialist, at one appointment or through one insured delivery, and you are paid by bank transfer within 24 hours of the watch being authenticated. A private buyer might pay more, or might not, and you could spend weeks finding out. Compare the figure, the time and the risk before you decide.
Part exchange your Datejust
Many owners who come to sell Rolex Datejust watches are really ready for a change of size, metal or model. With a part exchange, the value of your Datejust is offset against the watch you are buying from us in one transaction, and if your watch is worth more than the one you choose, we pay you the difference. Browse our pre-owned Rolex Datejust collection, or read how part exchange works.
Why sell Rolex Datejust watches to us
We buy for our own stock and are not a broker, so the price we agree is what you receive, with no commission or hidden fees. There is no listing period and no waiting for a buyer. As an independent specialist, we value a Datejust on its size, reference, metal, dial, bracelet, condition and completeness, and we explain each point. If you have other Rolex watches, our main sell your Rolex page covers them too.
Not sure yet whether to sell Rolex Datejust watches? Find out what yours is worth first; the valuation is free and you are not committed to anything. WhatsApp photos to +44 (0)7888 888835 or phone 0330 043 7777.
Common questions
Can I sell Rolex Datejust watches without the box and papers?
Yes. Paperwork often goes missing on a Datejust that has been worn for decades, and that is no barrier. We verify the watch in person, explain how the missing items affect the price, and give you a firm offer.
Do you buy ladies' and smaller Datejusts?
We do. The 31mm and 26mm models, such as the 278274 and the 69173, are valued on their own terms, as are the 28mm references. Diamond-set dials and bezels fitted by Rolex are taken into account.
Is an older Datejust worth selling?
Very often, yes. A clean, original 16233 or 116233 still attracts real interest, so if you plan to sell Rolex Datejust models from earlier decades, don't assume they are worth little. We will give you a straight answer either way.
Will you buy a Datejust with aftermarket diamonds?
Yes. Stones added after the watch left Rolex usually reduce its value rather than add to it, but they do not stop us buying the watch. Tell us what you know about its history, and we will explain how we have priced it.
How quickly can I sell Rolex Datejust watches to you?
Most of the time is simply arranging when you visit or send the watch. Photographs get you an initial figure quickly, and once the Datejust is authenticated and the offer accepted, we pay by secure bank transfer within 24 hours.
Can I sell a Datejust I have inherited?
Yes, and many of the Datejusts we see have been passed down. Whatever survives with the watch, from a box to a faded service receipt, is worth bringing. We value it in exactly the same way as any other and take time to explain the process to the family.
How am I paid when I sell Rolex Datejust watches to you?
By secure bank transfer to your account within 24 hours, after the price is agreed and the Datejust has been authenticated in person. The agreed figure is paid in full; we take no commission and add no fees.
Ready to sell Rolex Datejust watches? Request a valuation | Other watches we buy | Speak to our team
Kings & Queens Watches is an independent dealer and is not affiliated with Rolex.
