Rolex Datejust Ref. 1601 - Grey 'Ghost' 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.

This particular piece, a Reference 1601 from circa 1971, comes to us with an honest case showing signs of wear throughout. It exhibits some blemishes on the right case profile and 'matting' on the left, with the top of the lugs showing some factory finishing and less wear. The folded-link Jubilee bracelet shows normal wear and moderate stretch for its age with a signed blade clasp. Inside, the satin grey dial — known to collectors as a 'ghost dial' for its tendency for the white printing to seemingly vanish in certain lighting — shows some wear on the left edge extending onto the 9 o'clock side of the dial, and is otherwise very clean with evenly patinated lume across the plots and handset.

All in all, this is a watch with a few touches of if you know, you know.

Pretty neat!