Rolex datejust
Model 16220
Year 2002
Ref. Code RLXDJ10002
Differing from the more popular fluted and smooth bezel variations, the reference presented a watch that was just a touch more distinct in everyday wear, but at its core still featuring that signature Rolex cool in its highly wearable 36mm Oyster case and ever-versatile and diverse dial options.
The ref. 16220 was among the first five-digit offerings within the Datejust family, and importantly one of the first to also use a sapphire crystal. First offered in the late 1980s until the second half of the 1990s, the 16220 made a number of notable improvements to the design family, including featuring the brand's patented "jumping date," which flipped over instantaneously at midnight rather than over the course of the last few hours. as was the case with previous Datejust iterations. Additionally, within the five-digit era, references starting with 162XX (like this one) can all be found with the newer caliber 3135, whereas 160XX references utilize the earlier caliber 3035 - a small detail worth paying attention to.
