951
Rolex
Ref. 1601
Datejust
A fine and very rare white gold automatic wristwatch with center seconds and date
- Estimate
- HK$64,000 - 96,000€7,000 - 10,600$8,200 - 12,300
HK$93,750
Lot Details
- Manufacturer
- Rolex
- Year
- circa 1976
- Reference No
- 1601
- Movement No
- D711'981
- Case No
- 4'110'096
- Model Name
- Datejust
- Material
- 18K white gold
- Calibre
- Automatic, cal. 1570, 26 jewels
- Bracelet/Strap
- Leather
- Clasp/Buckle
- Stainless steel pin buckle
- Dimensions
- 36mm Diameter
- Signed
- Case, dial and movement signed
Specialist
Full-Cataloguing
Catalogue Essay
In production from 1959 to 1977, reference 1601 is characterized by ribbed bezel, three-piece case, and “pie-pan” style dial, with an outer recessed sloped track. While it was usually produced in either yellow gold, stainless steel or steel-and-gold, an extremely scarce number of pieces were realized in white gold. These white gold examples are highly collectible and among the most difficult-to-come-by Datejust specimens.
For the joy of the discerning collector, the present piece is in fact an excellently preserved example of this very rare iteration of the model. A paradigm of understatement, the true importance of this piece is apparent only through its weight and the subtly different shine of white gold compared to stainless steel. The silver sunburst dial present on this example perfectly complements the algid beauty of the case for an extremely elegant final result.
For the joy of the discerning collector, the present piece is in fact an excellently preserved example of this very rare iteration of the model. A paradigm of understatement, the true importance of this piece is apparent only through its weight and the subtly different shine of white gold compared to stainless steel. The silver sunburst dial present on this example perfectly complements the algid beauty of the case for an extremely elegant final result.
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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