Collector's Guide: The IBM Rolex Datejust

By Gavin Galiardo

While many people affiliate Rolex corporate watches with pizza (Domino’s), supermarkets (Winn-Dixie), oil (Halliburton), cheeseburgers and beer (Steak & Ale), and motorcycles (Honda) - there is sophisticated and stealthy Rolex corporate affiliation - International Business Machines - or IBM for short.

August 12, 1981, marked an important day for a group of engineers based in Boca Raton, Florida. The team, a group from International Business Machines, was proud to finally bring to the pioneering model 5150, or as it was referred to the IBM Personal Computer This was a monumental step for the tech giant in the world of microcomputers bridging the gap for personally owned devices as opposed to the professional machines that typically went to businesses and earned the company its reputation. With an 11.5-inch monochrome monitor and a total weight of somewhere around 30 pounds, the machine was considered state-of-the-art and an excellent seller throughout its production run from around 1981 until circa 1987.

More interestingly, it was around this same time that IBM employees were celebrating their 25th anniversaries earning gifts such as a one-thousand-dollar bonus, an additional week of vacation, and a stainless-steel Rolex Datejust. This tradition of 25 years of employment was often referred to by companies as the “Quarter Century Club”.

The machine I am writing this on today is far more capable than the IBM 5150, and its dimensions put the outdated "microcomputer" to shame. The 30-pound machine of the past is now outgunned by any laptop that can easily fit in any book bag. In fact, at the time of me writing this, there is a complete IBM 5150 for sale on eBay, it claims to power on and will run you around a thousand dollars. As for the IBM Datejusts, they seem to be holding more of their value… and I’m currently wearing one on my wrist!

The watches known as the “IBM Rolex Datejusts” are a series of Rolex Datejusts typically engraved with the company’s logo, the name of the recipient, and the date of their 25th anniversary. These watches all feature the signature “Quarter Century Club” on the case back. The typical configuration is the shield in the center, with the employee's name as a top rocker and the date on the bottom.

There are a few Datejust references most closely associated with the IBM Quarter Century Club. Most notable are the references 16030, which had a production run from circa 1977 until circa 1988, and the 16220 produced from circa 1988 until 2004. Both are 36mm references that measure to around 44mm lug to lug.

https://www.windvintage.com/rolex-ibm-datejust-reference-16030-full-set

https://www.windvintage.com/rolex-ibm-datejust-16220-unpolished-w/-box

The differences between these reference 16030 and reference 16220 may not be immediately visible. Both of these watches feature a stainless-steel case and bracelet, as well as a stainless-steel engine-turned bezel. In circa 1988-1989 Rolex would transition from acrylic crystals to sapphire crystals, as seen in the transition from the 16030 to the 16220. The reference 162XX series also marks the departure from the previous Calibre 3035 to the updated Rolex Calibre 3135 (both references feature a quick-set date function). The differences don't appear to be overwhelming, the most notable being some upgrades in construction quality of the 3135 and the jump from a 42-hour to a 50-hour power reserve. In summation, the 16030 is the predecessor to the 16220, which switched in sometime around 1988 with a scratch-resistant crystal and a slightly upgraded movement.

Unlike their respective white gold fluted bezel counterparts, the references 16014 and 16234, the references 16030 and 16220 were both produced with a steel engine-turned bezel. These steel Guilloché (the French word describing engine turned is sometimes favored) bezels show a higher level of intricate grooves on the bezel in comparison to the fluted Rolex bezels in precious metal. The process is done by machine engraving to create a delicate pattern on the surface of the bezel.

Comparison: Fluted white-gold bezel found on reference 16234 (non-IBM Datejust).

Both the reference 16030 and 16220 feature a 6mm “Twinlock” winding crown in stainless steel. This is made distinct by a bar below the coronet to signify stainless steel case material and Twinlock water resistance.

The bracelet variations are two-fold: the stainless steel “Oyster” bracelet, reference 78360, and the “Jubilee” reference 6251H/62510H. These watch cases have a 20mm lug width.

For these Rolex Datejusts, the correct end-links are 558 then 558 B for the Oyster bracelet and 555 then 555 B for the Jubilee bracelet. The end-links labelled “B” were to be made cutouts to access the spring bar in no-hole cases; however in some circumstances, like my watch ref 16220, the 558 B end-links are without cutouts. These may have been made in anticipation of the switch to no-hole cases.

For those who appreciate a slightly sporty look and feel, the solid-link Oyster bracelet may be a game changer to the 36mm Datejust. Whenever I see an Oyster solid-link 78360 Swiss-made bracelet on a Datejust with an engine-turned bezel, I instantaneously think “What is going on with that case back? Is it an IBM?”

Oyster bracelet ref. 78360 fitted with 558 end links.

Jubilee bracelet ref. 62510H and 555 end links.

Radially brushed silver dials with baton markers are the standard dial layout. It appears that IBM stopped commissioning these watches before Rolex’s switch to non-tritium luminous materials in the mid-90’s. After that time, IBM awarded its 25 year employees with a Tudor Prince Oysterdate (bummer). The IBM Rolex dials should designate some form of T at the six o’clock index highlighting the use of tritium.

All known examples share standard white gold baton hands with a tritium luminous stripe. There is some variation in the radially brushed silver dials. The observed are the following:

An interesting pseudo “chapter ring” style dial on a ref. 16030 marked “T Swiss T”.

Silver radially brushed, with minute track dials. As seen on ref 16030 (left) and two ref 16220 models. Stamped “T Swiss Made T”.

And the staggered minute track “T Swiss T” dials. These are seen in the reference 16030.

Note that in many of the examples of these IBM Datejusts that we find with original papers, the serial numbers have been mismatched, as in the case with my personal watch. This may have occurred because of how the company placed larger orders for these watches, and thus may have switched around some of the papers before awarding them to employees without checking the serial number between the lugs. Certainly, IBM cared more about computer code than Rolex serial numbers.

When it comes to the category of “tech watches”, the IBM Rolex is certainly not the first watch that comes to mind. However, it may be the most classic watch that falls into this genre with its timeless and elegant style. For those interested in the ever popular corporate-themed Rolex world, it is hard to argue there is a better value than the IBM Datejusts!

While we may never know what suit at IBM chose the Datejust on an Oyster bracelet, I am certainly glad he did! It’s a distinctive look, sporty yet elegant, and a corporate Rolex unlike any other.