A MEN'S 18K GOLD AUTOMATIC DAY DATE WRISTWATCH WITH PIE PAN DIAL.

Model: Datejust
Date: Circa 1957
Case reference: 1601
Movement: Signed Rolex, automatic, 26 jewels, Cal. 1560, No. 97XXX
Dial: Signed, silvered sunburst Pie Pan, gilt applied hour batons with dot applied, luminous, gilt stick hands with luminous insert, gilt centre second hand, black outer minute division, date aperture at the three o'clock position with a white calendar disk and black Arabic numerals
Case: Signed, 18k yellow gold, fluted bezel, screw-down crown, screw-down back stamped inside 1601, No. 261XXX
Strap: Black leather strap, signed Rolex gold-plated buckle
Size: 35.5mm

The late 1950s and early 1960s were a time of international tensions, with the ongoing Vietnam War and the Cuban Missile Crisis and many countries still trying to recover from World War II. At this time the Rolex Datejust 1601 became the go-to watch to celebrate middle-class success, whether this was to celebrate a wedding, or perhaps for a man in his mid-60's retiring after 40+ years of service to his country or to a private company. On these occasions, there was no better way of showing gratitude, from the government or from an employer, than by presenting this Rolex watch.

Using as its main movement the famous Rolex Caliber 1570, our watch is characterised by the high-profile acrylic crystal rising above the bezel, something unusual in comparison with contemporary watch crystals, feeling somehow warmer due to the softness of the 'glass'. Our watch offers a distinction and elegance due to its rare dial with a subtle sunburst pattern and, most importantly, a 'Pie-Pan' configuration with a recessed outer ring containing the luminous dots, and a minute division offering a multilayer visual effect - all this only achieved by this 1601 model.