Watches

Hard to believe - but the Datejust has been around since 1945. It is far older than its bigger and attention-hogging Submariner brethren. The Datejust was Rolex’s idea of the perfect everyday watch. The robustness of the Oyster case, combined with the elegance of an Oyster Perpetual. The ‘4 digit’ series of Datejust are particularly attractive for their pie-pan dials which offer a layer of three-dimensionality to the dials that went away with the advent of quickset date and 5-digit Datejusts. These early Datejusts were available as the 1601, with a fluted white gold bezel, or the 1603, with an engine-turned steel bezel. The 4-Digit Datejusts wear also the first series to become available with a myriad of dial colors and case and bracelet materials. This particular piece, for starters, is a solid-gold Datejust, which are rare to begin with, full stop. Rolex did not make a lot of these so it didn’t compete with its more expensive sibling, the Day-Date, which were exclusively produced in solid gold. And then, there are sold rose gold Datejusts, like the one that we have here — rarer still! But the real story here, is the dial that this piece bears within... Seldom surfacing on the open market, it features an absolutely stunning olive green prototype dial with vertically-brushed finishing, applied rose gold indices, brown printed text and minute markers on the outside edge, and a matching rose gold handset. Color aside, the dial has a few interesting things to note: It does not feature the “Superlative Chronometer” text found on the lower half of the dial and it is devoid of the “SWISS” signature almost always found at the bottom of the 6 o’clock position. It is also worth noting that the back of the dial features the usual Singer stamp — the hallmark of the Singer Dial company that was producing Rolex dials during this era. The case and Jubilee bracelet have got to be one of the most stunning examples that exists in rose gold. Both case and bracelet remain in unpolished condition and show light signs of wear throughout, with thick, symmetrical lugs all around and well preserved factory finishing on the tops of them. This is an extremely rare opportunity to grab a piece of Rolex history as ultimately, this dial never made it into production. To read a little more about the Rolex prototype dials produced by Singer, check out this excellent write-up from Phillip at Rolex Passion Report. Condition: Case: Unpolished, showing light signs of wear throughout with thick lugs and strong factory finishing and no significant blemishes or damage. Dial: Outstanding, seemingly-flawless condition with light oxidation developing on the applied rose gold indices. The correct handset shows matching oxidation. Bracelet: Rolex 18k rose gold Jubilee bracelet with signed blade clasp stamped '2-65.' Unpolished condition showing light signs of wear throughout with virtually no stretch. Sized for ≈7.3" wrist. Shipping: All watches will be shipped via FedEx Insured Priority Overnight shipping. International shipping will be shipped via FedEx International Priority Express, always fully insured. This service is included in the listed price and will not incur any additional fees. All watches are shipped 1-2 business days after receiving payment confirmation by Chrono24. We are unable to ship watches on Saturday or Sunday. Our Policy: We service or perform necessary maintenance to the extent necessary to all of our watches, unless otherwise noted. All watches are listed and sold running and functioning as intended. Our Guarantee: Through rigorous vetting of each watch offered, we’re able to guarantee authenticity of our pieces. Ultimately, your satisfaction is our mission, as is helping you get YOUR perfect watch. If you have any questions at all, we will get back to you ASAP. Each of our timepieces are vetted, evaluated, authenticated, and approved by our experienced team of experts and watchmakers prior to sale. We guarantee the period-correctness of all components unless otherwise disclosed. We guarantee the authenticity of each watch in perpetuity.

The Rolex Datejust is a true icon of modern horology. First introduced in 1945, it marked a milestone as the world's first wristwatch with a date function, showcased through a window on the dial. Its timeless aesthetics and functionality have made it popular among watch enthusiasts. Over the years, though updated in terms of machinery and slightly in appearance, it retains its classic elegance and is known for its durability and precision. The watch typically features a stainless steel case, although other versions exist in various metal combinations and sizes, retaining Rolex's hallmark fluted bezel and cyclops lens over the date.