An early Rolex datejust with gilt writing and chocolate dial
Reference: 1603
Circa: 1964
Case. Three-body, polished and brushed, screw-down case back and crown, white gold bezel, crystal with cyclops lens. Case has some markins, scuffs. Crown is original.
Dial. Originally black with gilt writings it is now a Tropical or Chocolate brown applied steel baton indexes and luminous dots, outer minute/second division, aperture for the date. Luminous steel baton hands.Early dauphine hands, Dial has aged and has a scuff between 11 and 12.
Movement. Cal. 1570, rhodium plated, oeil-de-perdrix decoration, 26 jewels, straight-line lever escapement, monometallic balance adjusted to 5 positions and temperature, shock absorber, free-sprung self-compensating Breguet balance spring, Microstella regulating screws, hack mechanism.
Serial 1.14x.xxx
Size: 36mm diameter and 13mm thickness
SOLD
The Rolex Datejust is the signature watch from the Rolex collection. It is an evolution of an early oyster case and the first watch to be fitted with a cyclop. In 1964, Rolex replaced the caliber 1065 with the famous 1570. The watch also received some modifications on the case and bezel. This example is a very early example of such a model.
Early black gilt Rolex Datejust from the 1960's are a rare sight but examples which have turned Tropical or chocolate are extremely rare. This example has all the characteristics of an early datejust with a sell preserved gold bezel, an unpolished and fate case. The contrast between the gilt writing and the even tobacco dial is striking,