1969 ROLEX DateJust 1601

A stunner of a watch, a 1969 ROLEX DateJust 1601. Needless to say, this is not your regular 36mm DJ. Time has transformed this example into a truly unique watch that looks like no other. It went from a traditional dress-classic to a gritty shorts-and-tshirt companion wearing the Rolex coronet. For those that do not know, early blue and gray dials from Rolex did not hold up and usually took on a heavy patina over time. While some resulted in less-desirable looks, others, like this one, aged fantastically. Luckily the movement in these watches was much more robust than their dials, and this one is no exception. Beating with a healthy amplitude of just under 260, this one has no need for service any time soon. As shown, the watch ones on a top-grain leather strap with no box or papers.