Rolex Datejust Ref. 1601/3 'Two-Tone' - Blue 'Mosaic' Dial
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.
The example that we have here is a Ref. 1601/3 from circa 1971. It features a two-tone stainless steel and yellow gold construction, with a very unusual and not often seen two-tone 'rivet' Oyster bracelet. The case has been professionally refurbished and looks fantastic, showing normal signs of wear throughout. The characteristic 'fluted' yellow gold bezel is in equally excellent condition, with crisp and defined finishing and also shows only light wear. And despite the two-tone nature with the rare bracelet, it must be said that the dial inside is the real highlight of this piece. Blue in color, the captivating 'mosaic' finishing is beautifully preserved and shows only faint wear — hardly visible to the naked eye. The luminous plots remain fully-intact and exhibit a light and even patina throughout with a beautifully matching handset.
Like any Datejust this could easily be your one watch... And this one, with that wildly cool dial and two-tone construction offers some extra spice amongst its contemporaries...
... and we'll bet you don't see another one of these anytime soon.
Condition Report & Details
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