Rolex Datejust 18k yellow gold

The Rolex Datejust has worn countless faces over the decades, but few are as captivating as this 16018 with its Lapis Lazuli dial. Produced in 1980, it comes in 18k yellow gold and wears on its most opulent configuration: the Super Jubilee bracelet with concealed clasp, flowing seamlessly from case to wrist.

The dial is carved from a single piece of Lapis Lazuli, a stone prized since antiquity for its deep ultramarine hue and golden flecks of pyrite. Here, the composition is beautifully balanced; the pyrite inclusions are evenly dispersed, lending the surface a subtle shimmer without overpowering the colour. This is a third-generation Lapis dial, distinguished by its larger typeface and the discreet “Swiss” signature at six o’clock. While “Swiss only” is a rarity in conventional Rolex dials (mostly seen in the 1950s and 1999 specifically), in the world of stone dials it occupies a different chapter.

Condition is excellent, with strong case proportions, a bracelet that remains tight, and a dial free from fractures or blemishes. The result is a Datejust that blends the reliability of Rolex’s Oyster Perpetual lineage with the natural beauty of one of history’s most storied gemstones.