Rolex Datejust 26 Ref. 79174 — Steel, Fluted WG Bezel

Reference 79174 at a Glance

The 79174 is Rolex's quick-set ladies Datejust in the 26mm steel case, introduced as the successor to the 69174 and produced through much of the late 1990s and into the 2000s. This example dates to approximately 2000, placing it squarely in the mature production run when fit and finish on the case and bracelet were at a high point. The movement inside is the calibre 2235 — a self-winding micro-rotor movement with the Quickset date function, meaning the date can be advanced independently without cycling through the hours, a genuine everyday convenience that older pre-Quickset Datejusts lack.

White Gold Bezel on a Steel Case

One of the defining details of the 79174 — and a point worth understanding before you buy — is that the fluted bezel is white gold, not steel. Rolex has long fitted white gold bezels to steel Datejust references as a way of achieving the fluted look with the durability and brightness that gold provides. In practice this means the bezel holds its crisp, machined edges better than steel would over time and gives the watch a dressy two-tone quality without the full cost of a gold case. On this piece the silver stick dial works in harmony with the white gold bezel: applied baton hour markers, a clean silver background, and the date aperture at three o'clock kept uncluttered by a cyclops lens on top — no magnification on the 26mm, which is standard for the reference.

Oyster Bracelet and Case Condition

This example is presented on the matching Oyster bracelet, the correct period-appropriate option for the 79174. The Oyster — with its flat three-link construction — keeps the watch proportional on a smaller wrist and avoids the dressier character of the Jubilee, making this configuration versatile from a work setting through to an evening out. The watch is listed in used condition, which is accurate and honest: expect the bracelet to show the stretch and light surface wear consistent with roughly two-plus decades of regular wear, and the case flanks to carry polish marks or micro-scratches. None of that is unusual for a 25-year-old daily-wear piece, and for many collectors a naturally aged steel Rolex is preferable to an over-polished example that has lost its original case lines.

No Box or Papers

This watch is sold without its original box or papers. For a reference of this age and price tier, that is a common situation and generally has a modest effect on resale relative to a full-set example. The 79174 is not a heavily documented collector piece in the way that vintage sports references are — authentication rests primarily on the watch itself, and the movement serial number, dial printing, and case hallmarks are the reference points that matter. If provenance documentation is important to you, factor that into your evaluation; if you are buying primarily to wear, the absence of paperwork changes nothing about the watch's function or character.

Market Context

The 26mm steel Datejust occupies an interesting position in the pre-owned Rolex market. It is not a speculative collector reference, but it is a genuinely well-made Swiss automatic with a proven movement, sapphire crystal, and 100-metre water resistance — all in a case size that suits smaller wrists without compromise. The white gold fluted bezel configuration adds a layer of material value that plain-bezel steel examples lack. At its current asking price this 79174 sits within the typical market band for a no-papers used example in honest condition, reflecting the combination of the desirable bezel specification and the realistic wear the piece shows.

The 79174 is a reference that has been in continuous daily service since the turn of the millennium — a straightforward case for what the Datejust has always done best.