Rolex Datejust 1601 'Tropical'
SoldRolex Datejust 1601 'Tropical'
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This baby combines everything we love about vintage Rolex: an iconic design, a rare fancy bracelet, and a beautifully patinated gilt dial.Reference 1601 Datejusts are a perennial crowd favorite. With their iconic case design, fine fluted bezel, boxy plexiglass crystals, and characteristic ‘pie-pan’ dials, they combine form and function in a neat and classic 36 mm package.This 1601/8 from 1962 ups the ante in several ways. For one, it’s quite uncommon to run into a gold Datejust. As most people that were in the market for a precious metal Rolex opted for the Day-Date option at a slight price premium, relatively previous metal Datejusts hit the market.The 36 mm yellow-gold Oyster case is in great condition and features the iconic finely fluted bezel, also in 18k yellow-gold. Usually, such Datejusts were either sold on a leather strap, a matching gold Jubilee bracelet, and on some occasions even a President bracelet. Rolex also offered many more exotic, special order bracelet options for their precious metal watches. Among them, this exquisite and rare 18k yellow-gold milanese style mesh bracelet.But the central attraction on this watch is the wonderful faded gilt dial. As the sun’s UV rays work their magic on older dials, the lacquers and paints can slowly degrade. On this dial, the original black lacquer has evolved slowly to a deep burgundy colour with some toffee-like hues. This rich palette serves a warm backdrop to the gilt text and the matching 18k yellow-gold applied baton markers and 18k yellow-gold handset.
Introduction
Rolex DatejustIn 1945 Rolex created the flagship Datejust to mark the company’s 40th anniversary. This model was the world’s first self-winding wristwatch with a date indication. With the Datejust, Rolex also introduced the iconic 5-piece jubilee bracelet, first in solid gold and later in bicolor and stainless steel. On the tenth anniversary of the Datejust in 1955, the magnifying ‘cyclops lens’ was introduced on the Datejust.Ref. 16xxThe Datejust 16xx series was produced in the 1960s and the 1970s. These affordable and user-friendly Datejusts are the perfect vintage ‘daily beaters’ that can be combined with any outfit and worn on every occasion.The Datejust is usually fitted with a Jubilee bracelet, but the ref. 1600 could also be ordered on an Oyster bracelet. This reference came with a smooth bezel (domed bezel) and was available in either (white, yellow, or rose) gold or in stainless steel. The ref. 1601 came with a fluted bezel in gold and was available with a steel, bicolor, or (white, yellow and rose gold) case and bracelet. The ref. 1603 was only made in steel and featured an engine turned bezel in steel.The dial colors and configurations varied among the 16xx series Datejusts. Characteristic for this era of production is the so-called ‘Pie-Pan’ dial where the dial looks like an upside-down pie-pan (a concentric ring that slopes down from the flat centre).
Specifications
- SKU 6818
- Bezel material
- Bracelet
- Caliber
- Case Dimensions
- Case Material
- Dial
- Glass
- Model
- Movement
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Reference
1601/8
- Year