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
More about Rolex:
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,