Rolex released its very first Datejust, reference 4467, in 1945 to celebrate the firm’s 40th anniversary. Fitted with a date wheel at 3 o’clock, the watch featured an Oyster case, ‘Bubble Back’ movement and ‘coin edge’ bezel. At the time of production, the Datejust was the world’s first automatic chronometer wristwatch to display the date on the dial. The reference 1601, which was a later iteration of the original Datejust, was launched in 1959, and was made in a variety of metals, including stainless steel, two-tone, and gold, with fluted bezels and various case and bracelet options.

In exceptional condition, the present example showcases an uber rare red jasper dial - arguably one of the most collectible of all the stone dials ever made. While most jasper dials are typically green, the brownish-red hue of this dial beautifully complements the stark stainless steel case. Given the precious nature of jasper, it is very rare that the present watch is cased in stainless steel, making this dial/case combination much rarer than its precious metal counterparts.

The timepiece itself is preserved in impressive condition, with incredibly sharp finishes to the top of the lugs and crisp numbers between the lugs. The dial itself is intact, and does not display any cracks. As no hard stone dial is alike, each dial is slightly different, giving the watch lots of character. In this instance, there are flecks throughout the rich red colour, giving much depth to the dial.