Posts Tagged ‘Datejust’
Linen Dial 1601/9 Rolex Datejust, White Gold
This is a rather exceptional 1601 Datejust, but don’t anyone tell it. It really thinks it’s an 1803 Day-Date. But it’s not just the bracelet, which is likely original to the watch. It’s the metal: this is white gold. Pair that rather unusual precious metal for a Datejust with this spectacular linen dial, and the…
Read MoreOnyx Dial 16018 Rolex Datejust
Onyx might not look like this in nature, but it does in Datejust. And that’s enough. Stone dials have had a rough time of late, but the OGs are as index-less and lovely as they’ve ever been. Normally, I would always slightly preference a Day-Date, everything else being equal. But in stone dials, Datejusts really…
Read More‘Obsidian’ Dial 1600 Rolex Datejust
Here’s just about the most controversial Rolex around today. It goes by Obsidian, a volcanic glass, and for recent years it has been hyped as one of the rarest stone dials made. But is it? That’s not an easy question to answer. The last few years have seen stone dial Day-Dates and Datejusts rise stratospherically…
Read MoreBurlwood Dial 16019 Rolex Datejust
You’re used to wood dials in Day-Date, but Datejust? Yes, it happened, they’re just far less common. Particularly in white gold, and this is the rarest of the lot. Only seen in 16019, it’s a much darker burlwood than what we usually see in Day-Dates, likely walnut, and it was made with extra long minute…
Read MoreSerpico Y Laino Dial 6605 Rolex Datejust ‘Ovettone’, Pink Gold
Before Paul Newmans got everyone hot and bothered and way before anyone cared about the Nautilus, early Ovettone Datejust were what collectors thought should be all the rage. When there was no social media and you weren’t yet qualified to operate a motor vehicle, this was original hype watch at auction. And, honestly, I think…
Read MoreMalachite Dial 1601 Rolex Datejust
There is no dial like a stone Datejust dial. The charm here is that this was effectively the base model Rolex at the time, elevated above the RRP of most Day-Dates because someone wanted a stone dial. That’s why we don’t see as many stone dials in 1601 as 1803, the premium was such that…
Read MoreOnyx Dial 16238 Rolex Datejust
Staring into an onyx Datejust is the horological equivalent of a black hole. Both aesthetically and financially, they will suck you in. Normally, I would always slightly preference a Day-Date, everything else being equal. But in stone dials, Datejusts really sing. You get more of the stone, to start. But I really love that fact…
Read More‘Obsidian’ Dial 1601 Rolex Datejust
Much has been discovered since this first Finds post on an Obsidian Datejust. Below is a copy of our updated perspective on these stone dial Datejusts, taken from our most recent article written 2024. Here’s just about the most controversial Rolex around today. It goes by Obsidian, a volcanic glass, and for recent years it…
Read MoreRed Jasper Dial 1600/8 Rolex Datejust
It took a very particular person to buy a stone dial Datejust in 1972. You’re adding very significant premium to the base model, sort of the Cayman GT4 of the vintage Rolex range. You could’ve purchased a Day-Date for the premium, but you chose discretion on purpose. They’re rare for this reason alone. But this…
Read MoreHoneycomb Dial ‘Ovettone’ 6305 Rolex Datejust
Rolex didn’t have the formula perfectly defined in 1955. They had some brilliant ideas around creating tool watches for professionals to use, but weren’t yet certain how to go about it. We observe wild experimentation around these years with what it meant to be an Explorer, Submariner, Milgauss, Oyster Chronograph (there was no Cosmograph yet),…
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