94
Rolex
Ref. 1601
DateJust
A fine and rare yellow gold wristwatch with sweep centre seconds, date, lapis lazuli hardstone dial and bracelet
- Estimate
- HK$100,000 - 150,000
HK$200,000
Lot Details
- Manufacturer
- Rolex
- Year
- 1970
- Reference No
- 1601
- Movement No
- DN903507
- Case No
- 461'495
- Model Name
- DateJust
- Material
- 18k yellow gold and lapis lazuli
- Calibre
- Automatic, 1066, 25 jewels
- Bracelet/Strap
- 18k yellow gold <em>Rolex Jubilee </em>bracelet, 185 mm. maximum length, end link stamped 53
- Clasp/Buckle
- 18k yellow gold <em>Rolex </em> folding deployant clasp stamped Rolex SA
- Dimensions
- 36 mm. diameter
- Signed
- <em>Case, dial and movement signed</em>
Specialist
Full-Cataloguing
Catalogue Essay
The present reference 1601 is a highly charismatic and rare example of the famous DateJust as it is fitted with the highly sought after lapis lazuli hardstone dial. Rolex's use of hardstone dials on DateJust models is recognizable by the gold frames used around the aperture for the date on the dial.
The case is extremely well preserved, free of any polishing and the gold Jubilee bracelet is equally as appealing. The hardstone dial is intact and gives the watch a highly attractive look and the overwhelming condition and rarity renders this a very good DateJust indeed.
The case is extremely well preserved, free of any polishing and the gold Jubilee bracelet is equally as appealing. The hardstone dial is intact and gives the watch a highly attractive look and the overwhelming condition and rarity renders this a very good DateJust indeed.
Literature
Rolex
Swiss | 1905Founded in 1905 England by Hans Wilsdorf and Alfred Davis as Wilsdorf & Davis, it soon became known as the Rolex Watch Company in 1915, moving its headquarters to Geneva in 1919. Like no other company, the success of the wristwatch can be attributed to many of Rolex's innovations that made them one of the most respected and well-known of all luxury brands. These innovations include their famous "Oyster" case — the world's first water resistant and dustproof watch case, invented in 1926 — and their "Perpetual" — the first reliable self-winding movement for wristwatches launched in 1933. They would form the foundation for Rolex's Datejust and Day-Date, respectively introduced in 1945 and 1956, but also importantly for their sports watches, such as the Explorer, Submariner and GMT-Master launched in the mid-1950s.One of its most famous models is the Cosmograph Daytona. Launched in 1963, these chronographs are without any doubt amongst the most iconic and coveted of all collectible wristwatches. Other key collectible models include their most complicated vintage watches, including references 8171 and 6062 with triple calendar and moon phase, "Jean Claude Killy" triple date chronograph models and the Submariner, including early "big-crown" models and military-issued variants.
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