Rolex Datejust 1601 Vertical Brush Silver Dial
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1966
Maker / issuer
RolexThis Rolex Datejust, reference 1601, is a self-winding wristwatch featuring a 36 mm steel Oyster case and an 18k white gold fluted bezel. The watch is powered by a caliber 1570 movement, which does not feature a quick-set date function.
The dial is the primary distinguishing feature, characterized by a vertical brush finish on a pie-pan construction, contrasting with the standard silver sunburst dials often found on this reference. Black text is printed on the silver-toned surface, accompanied by clean hour markers. The watch is presented on a period-correct Rolex folded-link Jubilee bracelet, reference 6251H, equipped with 55 end links and a clasp stamped with the date code 4/71.
The watch is documented as having serial number 121xxxx, which corresponds to a production year of 1966. The object includes the reported condition of having been fully serviced by the vendor's watchmaker.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Technical characteristics
- Type
- Self-winding wristwatch
- Maker
- Rolex
- Movement
- 1570
- Reference
- 1601
- Serial Number
- 121xxxx
- Clasp Date Code
- 4/71
- Bracelet Reference
- 6251H
- Maker / attribution
- Rolex
Design
- Case and Dial
- The timepiece features a 36 mm stainless steel Oyster case equipped with a fluted bezel. According to the provided information, this bezel is composed of 18k white gold, intended to maintain a consistent aesthetic for the Datejust reference. The dial features a vertically brushed surface, which serves as a departure from the more common sunburst finishes for this model. The construction utilizes a pie-pan configuration, where the outer edges of the dial slope downwards. A Cyclops magnifying lens is fitted to the crystal over the date aperture at the three o'clock position.
- Visible features
- • Vertically brushed texture on the dial • Pie-pan style dial construction • Cyclops lens over the date aperture • Fluted bezel in 18k white gold
- Movement and Bracelet
- Internally, the watch is driven by the Rolex caliber 1570 self-winding movement. This movement does not feature a quick-set mechanism, requiring the date to be advanced manually by rotating the hands through the 24-hour cycle. The watch has undergone service by the vendor. The watch is mounted on a folded-link Jubilee bracelet identified as reference 6251H, which includes number 55 end links. The clasp is marked with the stamp 4/71, which the source identifies as a date indicator for the bracelet. This bracelet is described as a period-correct component that complements the 1966 watch head.
- Dating and Identification
- The watch is identified by the serial number 121xxxx. Based on this serial number, the manufacture date is established as 1966. This dating corresponds to the period during which the 1601 reference was in active production. The bracelet's internal markings provide a secondary point of reference for the object as a whole. While the watch head is dated to 1966, the bracelet carries a stamp indicating manufacture in the second quarter of 1971.
Identification
- Reference
- 1601
- Serial number
- 121xxxx
- Source note
- Facts transcribed from the linked source listing or collection record. Attribution and specifications are source-reported and have not been independently authenticated.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: Clasp date code 4/71 suggests a bracelet produced after the 1966 watch head
- Research required: Service history attributed to vendor's internal watchmaker