1601 Datejust “Japan Dial”

It has been a while since we offered you guys a Japan Dial Datejust. However, today we’re happy to serve-up this excellent specimen from 1973 with, you guessed it, a rare Japan Dial. This nickname was derived from the fact that from the 1960’s up to the mid 1970’s the Japanese government banned the import of goods into the country with radio-active material in, or on them. For this reason, Rolex manufactured watch-dials and hands without the radioactive material Tritium, which of course was used by the brand for the luminescent characteristics of the dial and hands. Look close and you will notice that the hands are ‘closed’ without a line of luminescent material, the same applies to the dial – no luminescent dots at the end of the hour-markers also. By the way; all indices and hands on this vintage Datejust are manufactured from 18k white gold.

The lack of Tritium on the dial or in the hands make this a fresh and super clean looking Datejust, it is nothing short of stunning – The heavy Sunburst lines emerging from the center of the dial in combination with those white gold, brushed indices and subtle polished facets on the top and bottom, are truly mesmerizing. In day and/or sunlight this silver dial will show you a subtle champagne tone with a slightly darker colour in the center of the dial. The case on this 1601 Datejust “Japan Dial” is nice and strong with wonderful shaped lugs and an 18k white gold fluted bezel that remains unpolished and razor-sharp. Also, due to the composition of alloys used in vintage gold, this white gold fluted bezel shows a wonderful warm hue when compared to the ‘cool’ stainless steel of the case and bracelet. The watch is worn on its original 6251 Folded Jubilee bracelet with 55 end-links, this bracelet is in a crazy condition for its age with very little stretch and the more rare Big Logo folding clasp. This rare 1601 Datejust “Japan dial” remains in a magnificent condition.. Don’t sleep.

We’d like to invite you to our showroom so you can inspect this beauty for yourself. As always, this vintage banger was fully serviced and will be delivered with our 24 month warranty.

reference: 1601
case number: 248XXXX
year of production: 1970
case diameter: 36mm
movement: automatic, Rolex caliber 1570
box and papers: no

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