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Rolex Datejust Ref. 1600 - Unpolished

Sale price$4,950.00 USD

Hard to believe - but the Datejust has been around since 1945. It is far older than its bigger and attention-hogging Submariner brethren. The Datejust was Rolex’s idea of the perfect everyday watch. The robustness of the Oyster case, combined with the elegance of an Oyster Perpetual. The ‘4 digit’ series of Datejust are particularly attractive for their pie-pan dials which offer a layer of three-dimensionality to the dials that went away with the advent of quickset date and 5-digit Datejusts. These early Datejusts were available as the 1601, with a fluted white gold bezel, or the 1603, with an engine-turned steel bezel. The 4-Digit Datejusts were also the first series to become available with a myriad of dial colors and case and bracelet materials.

This particular piece, a Reference 1600 from circa 1971, comes to us with an honest case showing signs of wear with a few blemishes and sleeve polish throughout. The sunburst silver dial features applied 'baton' indices with fully-intact Tritium plots — all of which show a light patination — with a darker handset. The dial itself is in very good condition, retaining a bright 'sunburst' effect with some light but visible wear on the edge of the dial between the 1 & 2 o'clock markers as well as at the 6 o'clock position.

The neat thing about this piece, in our opinion, is its restrained, subtle wearing experience thanks to the smooth polished steel bezel and the Oyster bracelet. While Ref. 1601 and 1603s aren't exactly 'loud,' theres something Explorer I-like about this example while still being, of course, a Datejust.

All in all, a well-rounded example of what many could be your one watch!

Stainless Steel 1971 Unpolished 36mm
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"As collectors themselves, Oliver and Clarke are on a mission to make buying vintage watches as painless as possible."

"The company focuses on good prices for its pieces, elite customer service and full transparency."

"The appointment-only space is inviting, with comfortable seating areas and exposed brick walls."

From Rolex & Patek Philippe, to Cartier & Audemars Piguet. As collectors first, we love the small details that separate the Submariner from Daytona and Calatrava from Royal Oak. This is why you'll find our curated assortment spans decades of generations of models and brands. We believe that watches don't just tell time, they tell history - and life is too short to wear a boring watch.

Oliver & Clarke