Rolex Datejust Ref. 1603 - Black 'Confetti' Dial Unpolished
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 is a Reference 1603 from circa 1969 and it comes to us in fantastic overall condition. The case remains unpolished and shows only light signs of wear throughout with symmetrical lugs at all four corners. The 'engine-turned' stainless steel bezel is also unpolished and retains crisp finishing and shows matching light wear. The dial housed within the case of this piece, however, is not what it seems. What appears to be simply a matte black unit — uncommon to begin within the 4-digit Datejust range, we might add — is actually what is known as a 'Confetti' dial. For a short time, some dials offered by Rolex and Tudor in this era exhibited additional colors under close inspection — in this case, 'flakes' of blue, red, green, and even hints of gold! It remains in fantastic overall condition, with fully-intact and evenly patinated Tritium plots. The handset also matches the dial beautifully. This piece comes fitted to a period-correct 'oval'-link Jubilee bracelet with a signed blade clasp.
Black-dialed Datejusts are less common than you may think... And there is almost some Explorer-like sportiness about them, while of course, still being a Datejust. This one, with some additional spice is a complete sleeper and will be a tough example to beat.
Condition Report & Details
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