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Descriptif du lot
There is a particular kind of Datejust that separates the casual admirer from the serious collector—and this is it.
The Ref. 1600 needs little introduction, the unmistakable architecture of a four-digit Rolex. But what lifts this example far above the ordinary is what sits at its centre: a factory onyx dial.
Stone dials occupy a rarefied corner of vintage Rolex. They were never produced in volume, and the process behind them was brutal in its demands. Only stone of exceptional quality could be used, sliced thin enough to fit within a watch case—and many were rejected before ever reaching a dial.
This one sits behind a smooth polished bezel—rarer than the fluted variant, and quietly more architectural. There is nothing to distract the eye: just a pool of deep black framed in warm yellow gold, the hours and minutes reading cleanly across the surface. It is restraint at its most confident.
And then there is the bracelet. A riveted Oyster in solid gold—the configuration collectors actively hunt for. These early bracelets, with their visible rivets and tool-like construction, embody everything that makes mid-century Rolex so compelling. In 18k gold, they are increasingly difficult to find.
Stone-dial Datejusts do not surface often. Gold examples with smooth bezels and riveted bracelets surface even less. For the collector who has been waiting for the right one, this is a rare opportunity—and one that rewards close attention.
The Ref. 1600 needs little introduction, the unmistakable architecture of a four-digit Rolex. But what lifts this example far above the ordinary is what sits at its centre: a factory onyx dial.
Stone dials occupy a rarefied corner of vintage Rolex. They were never produced in volume, and the process behind them was brutal in its demands. Only stone of exceptional quality could be used, sliced thin enough to fit within a watch case—and many were rejected before ever reaching a dial.
This one sits behind a smooth polished bezel—rarer than the fluted variant, and quietly more architectural. There is nothing to distract the eye: just a pool of deep black framed in warm yellow gold, the hours and minutes reading cleanly across the surface. It is restraint at its most confident.
And then there is the bracelet. A riveted Oyster in solid gold—the configuration collectors actively hunt for. These early bracelets, with their visible rivets and tool-like construction, embody everything that makes mid-century Rolex so compelling. In 18k gold, they are increasingly difficult to find.
Stone-dial Datejusts do not surface often. Gold examples with smooth bezels and riveted bracelets surface even less. For the collector who has been waiting for the right one, this is a rare opportunity—and one that rewards close attention.