Rolex Vault › All references › Lady-Datejust
Lady-Datejust · 1970s to early 1980s · Discontinued · Vintage
“Vintage Steel 26”
Graded on the vintage scale: rank #1 of 26 rated vintage references
Market range: the middle half of 67 recorded eBay sales in the last 12 months. Vintage sales include serviced and redialed examples, so the best original pieces can sell above it.
Median recorded eBay sale price for each quarter with 3 or more sales. Dashed line marks the 1978 retail price.
The 1970s steel version of the vintage Lady-Datejust, sibling to the two-tone 6917 that leads our ladies' leaderboard.
It sold for a few hundred dollars new, and five years ago it was still a $1,700 watch. Vintage-petite demand has more than doubled that.
The earliest examples have sigma dials, marked with small sigma symbols near the bottom of the dial, which collectors pay a premium for.
As with any watch this age, buy the seller: originality and service history matter more than the reference number.
Our verdict: B with momentum. The steel twin of our ladies' top performer, at a lower price.
| Sizes | 26mm |
|---|---|
| Case & bracelet | Oystersteel (stainless) |
| Factory bracelet | Jubilee or Oyster (Jubilee most common) |
| Factory bezels | Smooth steel; Engine-turned |
| Notable dials | Silver; Champagne; Blue |
| Caliber | 2030 |
| Production | 1970s to early 1980s (discontinued) |
| Sold | Example | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 28, 2026 | Pre-owned · eBay sale ↗︎ | $3,500 |
| Oct 6, 2026 | Pre-owned · eBay sale ↗︎ | $3,850 |
| Oct 2, 2026 | Pre-owned · eBay sale ↗︎ | $3,300 |
| Sep 28, 2026 | Pre-owned · eBay sale ↗︎ | $3,825 |
| Sep 24, 2026 | Pre-owned · eBay sale ↗︎ | $3,350 |
| Sep 15, 2026 | Pre-owned · eBay sale ↗︎ | $2,800 |
Recorded eBay completed sales, logged at our last data refresh.
Recorded eBay sales from the last 12 months put the typical Rolex Lady-Datejust 26 Steel 6916 at $2,700, with the middle half selling between $2,200 and $3,500 (67 sales). Condition, box and papers move the price within that range.
The Crown Index grades it S (94/100) from real resale data, and today's call is wait for a dip. It holds its value well, but the market price is steep right now. Past prices are not a forecast.