what was the last year for the Rolex 1601?

[greekbum]

Does anybody know what year Rolex stopped making the 1601? Was it 1977?

[Lol-x]

I think it was around 1981.
I have one from 1978.

[greekbum]

Thanks Steve I wasnt sure when the quickset version came out. Im not a big fan of datejusts Im a sports model guy but I just purchased 1 from 1977 because it was only worn for 6 months and stored complete with everything box,papers,tags etc.I only wished I could come across a 1675 like it.
Thanks Agan

[Lol-x]

Don't we all wish to find a 1675 like that.
Anyway your 1601 with the lot is pretty darn nice, I wouldn't go throwing that in the bin
Please share a photo if possible

[greekbum]

pic

[Lol-x]

Congrats, that looks superb.
I have it's brother (more masculine with a flat bezel only joking) 1600 with all the stuff:



I also have a 1601, just the watch

[greekbum]

Nice set

[Marrk]

These are beautiful.

With regard to the one in the box, you removed the cyclops . . . ?

Originally Posted by Lol-x

Congrats, that looks superb.
I have it's brother (more masculine with a flat bezel only joking) 1600 with all the stuff:



I also have a 1601, just the watch

[Lol-x]

No I didn't remove the cyclops, it just came that way. The crystal doesn't have any trace of a cyclops having been there, so maybe it is a crystal that came without a cyclops.
I believe at one time Rolex offered watches without the cyclops as an option to the customer, but they will not do that these days.

[unclesallie]

that 1601 is beautiful.... what type of dial is that? and the old fashioned numbers on the date, man.
best,
dan

[Lol-x]

The dial is a regular DateJust stick dial. The 1601 was made in around 1978.
The dial is known as a 'pie pan' dial because if you look around the outer 1mm of the dial it has a ridge. Thus the dial looks like an upside down pie pan or so the saying goes

[greekbum]

Interesting in 1 year from 77-78 the dials changed?Mine says ot swiss to
Have a look.Whats the difference if any?

[Lol-x]

Rolex had more than one dial manufacturing sub-contractor.
It might be that your dial came from a different manufacturer than my dial.
It style of the hour batton markers is different too. I have seen some 1601 and 1600 dials with wide battons.
In this case my batton markers are faceted (bevelled edge) that is they have three sides along their length, whereas yours only appear to have square edges.
Also the type of the 'Rolex' is smaller on my dial than on yours.

[Marrk]

Jeez, Louise, I'm learning a lot on this forum (no sarcasm intended)!

There was an era when Rolex offered no-cyclops date watches? I wish we had that option now! The cyclops is, admittedly, a "signature" Rolex feature — and I mean no disrespect to all the cyclops-lovers ("Cyclopians"?) out there — but I just never warmed up to it.

Please feel free to tell more about these 1601s and other Rolex date watches sans cyclops.


P.S. I was a 5513 man for decades, and the only other watch that ever caught my eye (until recently) was the Sea Dweller.

Originally Posted by Lol-x

No I didn't remove the cyclops, it just came that way. The crystal doesn't have any trace of a cyclops having been there, so maybe it is a crystal that came without a cyclops.
I believe at one time Rolex offered watches without the cyclops as an option to the customer, but they will not do that these days.

[greekbum]

I asked a good friend thats more knowledgable than me on Rolex and he says it ot swiss to
(meaning tritium and gold are used on face)

[SPACE-DWELLER]

Originally Posted by Lol-x

(...)

I also have a 1601, just the watch

This DJ has an amazingly sharp fluted bezel for its age!

[Lol-x]

Well spotted Bo, that was one thing that I noticed too before I got this watch several years ago.
The crisp edges of a fluted bezel are a good sign that the watch has not been polished, but the lugs are always of paramount importance in a pre-purchase inspection.

[Andad]

Originally Posted by Lol-x

Rolex had more than one dial manufacturing sub-contractor.
It might be that your dial came from a different manufacturer than my dial.
It style of the hour batton markers is different too. I have seen some 1601 and 1600 dials with wide battons.
In this case my batton markers are faceted (bevelled edge) that is they have three sides along their length, whereas yours only appear to have square edges.
Also the type of the 'Rolex' is smaller on my dial than on yours.

Hi Steve,

Yup, I have had a close look and yours is smaller than mine.

[Orchi]

Err buddies...thanks for sharing the nice pics of your beautiful 1601 DateJust...

Here is one of Orchi's regular wears...

[milodavid]

Hi! I love this forum and have just signed up! I'm all about Rolex watches and this is my fifth Rolex. I Got this in a trade for some work I did for somebody and I know very little about it. I would appreciate any info that you might offer me. I believe the serial number is 1144583 but it's very worn down. I don't even know a value on this one. The bracelet is in rough shape as well. I'm guessing that the dial and hands are original. Any help? Thanks!!!

[Lol-x]

Welcome milodavid,

That looks to be a very early 1601 judging by the shape of the hands and the serial number. I'd say it was built in 1964.

The bezel edges when warn can give the watch a well used appearance. A new crisp sharp fluted bezel would give the watch a much newer appearance.

It looks to be 18K and with a matching bracelet. A very nice vintage watch indeed and vary rare to find it in all gold, as they are usually Two Tone or Stainless Steel.

If you got someone like Dalton or Bob Ridley to service it, you would be surprised how it might then appear.

[milodavid]

Thanks for the info! Keep it coming!! Is there a vintage market for something like this yet? I would hope that it's fairly collectable based on the age and the fact that it still has the dauphin hands....? I've seen alot of 'em with the newer hands (and even a couple with where they changed out the hands and dial to make it look newer) but I haven't found any with the dauphin hands yet.

[milodavid]

Here's some more. These are watches that I've owned over the years...

[milodavid]

PS: The very bottom one is a 1601. The one above it is a 16013.

[vapalux]

One 1601 Datejust, dated for 1977. Dial has T swiss T on it.

I will get a better picture taken one day!

Nikos thats one nice DJ. Its got me drooling on the keyboard!

Si