Rolex Datejust Ref. 1601 14K - Non-Luminous Silver Dial w/ Patina

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 wear also the first series to become available with a myriad of dial colors and case and bracelet materials.

This particular piece, for starters, is a solid-gold Datejust, which are rare to begin with, full stop. Rolex did not make a lot of these so it didn’t compete with its more expensive sibling, the Day-Date, which were exclusively produced in solid gold.

Dating to circa 1961, this early example features a 14K yellow gold case with a matching 'fluted' yellow gold bezel, a signed yellow gold crown, and an early non-luminous dial within. The case and bezel both show signs of a very light previous polishing and normal signs of wear from age and use. The lugs remain thick and symmetrical and retain clear and defined hallmarks on the undersides. Inside, the silver dial retains its sunburst finishing and has developed an attractive patina throughout, having changed to a champagne-color with 'specks' scattered throughout which are reminiscent of a desert landscape or perhaps beach. Additionally, it has applied 'dart' indices and a matching non-luminous handset.