View full screen - View 1 of Lot 694. Reference 1601 Datejust | A  stainless steel automatic wristwatch with date and bracelet, Circa 1966.

Rolex

Reference 1601 Datejust | A stainless steel automatic wristwatch with date and bracelet, Circa 1966

No reserve

Lot Closed

December 10, 10:28 PM GMT

Estimate

5,000 - 8,000 USD

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Lot Details

Description

Dial: gray

Caliber: cal.1570 automatic, 26 jewels

Movement number: D18'821

Case: stainless steel, screw down case back

Case number: 1'267'924

Closure: stainless steel and gold Rolex Jubilee bracelet with folding clasp

Size: 36mm

Signed: case, dial, and movement

Box: no

Papers: no 

Viewed by many as one of the most influential wristwatch designs ever created, the Rolex reference 1601 set the template for the modern date watch. Its defining elements—the cyclops magnifier, fluted bezel, and Jubilee bracelet—have been echoed throughout the industry for decades, underscoring the strength of the original concept.


Introduced in 1959, the model debuted with the new caliber 1565. The present example, dating to circa 1966, is fitted with the upgraded caliber 1575, distinguished by its higher 19,800 vph beat rate and improved reliability. Remarkably, the core aesthetic of the 1601 has endured for more than half a century, a testament to its balanced proportions and timeless appeal. It remains an effortlessly wearable watch, suited to virtually any occasion.