Ladies' Rolex Datejust 69173 — 26mm Steel & 18ct Gold with Factory Diamond Dial, Full Set 1992

Presenting a truly lovely Ladies' Rolex Datejust reference 69173 in 26mm stainless steel and 18ct yellow gold, with the highly sought-after factory champagne diamond dial — the Datejust in its most quietly aspirational configuration, and one of the most enduringly elegant ladies' watches Rolex has ever produced.

First sold on 12th September 1992 in Saitama, Japan, this watch arrives as a remarkable full set: the original Rolex guarantee paper correctly stamped and dated to the period with matching reference 69173, the original inner red Rolex presentation box, the outer Rolex Oyster card sleeve, the original Rolex Datejust booklet, the "Your Rolex Oyster" booklet, the Japanese translation booklet, and the original Rolex chronometer hangtag still attached on its green cord. Original hangtags rarely survive thirty-plus years of ownership, and to find one preserved alongside a complete documentation set is genuinely uncommon — meaningful provenance that underpins both the joy of ownership and the long-term collectability of the piece.

Why the 69173 Matters

Reference 69173 is a quietly significant ladies' Datejust. Produced from the late 1980s through to the early 2000s, it brought the sapphire crystal, the quickset date and the refined proportions that have defined the ladies' Datejust for a generation of collectors. The 26mm Oyster case in stainless steel pairs beautifully with the 18ct yellow gold fluted bezel and matching gold winding crown, sitting on the wrist with the easy confidence that only a properly proportioned Rolex achieves. It is the ladies' reference that bridges the vintage and contemporary eras, and it remains one of the most quietly accomplished purchases in the entire Rolex catalogue.

Factory Diamond Dial

The champagne diamond dial is original Rolex factory, not aftermarket — a distinction that matters significantly to the collector market and to long-term value. Ten brilliant-cut diamonds are set in their original white gold settings around the dial, replacing the standard baton indices and lifting the watch into genuinely special territory. The champagne dial itself catches and returns warm gold tones in any light, the Rolex coronet at twelve o'clock sits crisp and well-defined, and the gold sword hands complete a configuration that has, quite rightly, become one of the most coveted ladies' Datejust specifications.

Case, Bezel & Bracelet

The 26mm Oyster case retains strong, well-defined lines with the original brushed and polished finishing clearly intact. The 18ct yellow gold fluted bezel shows little to no signs of wear and frames the dial with the crispness collectors look for. The two-tone five-link Jubilee bracelet — the bracelet that arguably did more for the Datejust's identity than any other component — has minimal stretch and sits with the reassuring weight on the wrist that defines a well-preserved example. The foldover clasp closes positively with a clean, well-defined Rolex coronet.

Freshly Serviced & Running Beautifully

Mechanically the watch is running beautifully, having been fully serviced by our watchmaker in May 2026 with the timing test results paper supplied alongside the watch as photographed. The test slip records the rate, amplitude and beat error across all six positions — every result well within Rolex's own chronometer tolerances. You are buying a movement that has just been through full professional attention and that will run with confidence for years before requiring anything further.

The Aspirational Ladies' Datejust

The ladies' Datejust in steel and gold with factory diamond dial has been a benchmark in fine watchmaking for decades, and the 69173 is arguably the most quietly accomplished expression of that lineage. A complete 1992 example, freshly serviced, with original box, papers, booklets and the rarely-surviving original chronometer hangtag, presents a genuine opportunity to acquire one of the most enduringly aspirational ladies' watches Rolex has ever produced — in exactly the condition discerning collectors increasingly demand.

Higher resolution images are available below. This watch is supplied with our one-year Alward Luxury Watches warranty, so that you may buy with complete confidence from Ireland's trusted source for pre-owned luxury timepieces.