The legacy of Rolex’s DateJust reaches back to the early 1930s when the brand released their first automatic movement wristwatch with waterproof case and the designation “Oyster Perpetual”. Over the next decade the model became a best- seller, and in 1945 for the brand’s 40th anniversary, Rolex introduced the game changing “DateJust Jubilee” reference 4467 featuring an all-new movement with date aperture at the 3 o’clock position. It was a revolutionary new feature for Rolex that would serve as a foundation for the vast majority of watches Rolex would subsequently introduce.

The original Rolex calibers A295, 730 and 1065allowed the watch to instantaneously adjust the date at midnight. A few years later, in 1954, the DateJust would introduce the iconic cyclops date magnifier, an emblematic feature found on nearly all Rolex watches with a date aperture up to the present day. It was also at this time the brand expanded the collection with editions in steel, steel and gold, and rarely, in yellow, pink, or white gold.

The reference 1601 was in production from 1959 until 1977 and featured a fluted bezel along with the “pie-pan” style dial with outer sloping minute track. The DateJust became one of the most sought-after timepieces and Rolex began to offer it with a variety of dial types included rare white gold examples with lapis lazuli dials or like the present timepiece, a matte black dial with diamond-set hour markers.

Preserved in excellent overall condition with a crisp and unpolished case, this rarely seen 18K white gold DateJust is an exceptional and highly sought after example due to its rarely-seen black dial with non-luminous hands and diamond-set hour markers. The DateJust has evolved over the last 75 years into an iconic timepiece that is both functional and sophisticated.