Manufacturer: Rolex Year: 1970 Reference No: 1601 Movement No: D75756 Case No: 1’258’811 Model Name: Datejust Material: Stainless steel Calibre: Automatic, cal. 1560, 26 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Stainless steel Rolex Jubilee bracelet, endlinks stamped “271”, max length 190mm Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel Rolex Jubilee deployant clasp Dimensions: 36mm Diameter Signed: Case, dial, movement and bracelet signed Accessories: Further accompanied by Rolex fitted presentation box.
Catalogue Essay
First launched in 1945, the Date-just was Rolex's new breakthrough inline with its 40th anniversary. The piece was innovative yet revolutionary, it was among the first wristwatch to have a date display with a cyclopes magnifier, which improved the legibility of the date by two and a half times. In 1955, the firm introduced the ref. 1601 which was produced until 1977.
The present example is a 1970 ref. 1601. Housed in a stainless steel case under a beautiful black lacquered dial is the robust cal. 1560. The present piece is preserved in excellent condition and further accompanied by the original box.
Founded 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.