Vintage Rolex Datejust 1603 Matte Gray

[freen]

Hello, I've recently been getting into vintage Rolex. (Just DateJust for now.) Looking around on Chrono24 I found this watch (See attachment). What struck me immediately was the dial coupled with the markers, as I've never seen one like it before. I could not really find anything on this dial combination and its authenticity. After asking around, I am pretty sure it all matches up. The lume also appears to be authentic, or at least matching up with the time period. The only thing still confusing me, is the condition of the dial. It just looks a bit too pristine.

[crowncollection]

It’s called slate


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[Richard Carver]

Very nice, even has the proper champagne date wheel. :)

[TheGRman]

Wow! What a great looking watch. Love how the champagne date stands out, and that engine turned bezel... ooh la la.

[ancientmariner]

I'm no expert, but here is a pic of my 1966 1603 which has some similarity with your dial

[SubMarine]

This Watch was originally a two tone and someone swapped out the bezel.

[Richard Carver]

Originally Posted by SubMarine

This Watch was originally a two tone and someone swapped out the bezel.

Those dials do appear on a 1603, my own 1603 has one. The gold is much more subtle than the brassier dials and hands found on the 1601.




My 1603...



A quick check will reveal the ref on the OP watch.

[SubMarine]

Originally Posted by Richard Carver

Those dials do appear on a 1603, my own 1603 has one. The gold is much more subtle than the brassier dials and hands found on the 1601.




My 1603...



A quick check will reveal the ref on the OP watch.

Champagne logo + date wheel = 2 tone = 1601.

[Richard Carver]

Originally Posted by SubMarine

Champagne logo + date wheel = 2 tone = 1601.

lol, if only it were true. A tip, never make blanket statements about vintage Rolex, that way lies embarrassment. :)

Here are three of them, your assignment, go find more. :)

[SubMarine]

All are frankenwatches!

Originally Posted by Richard Carver

lol, if only it were true. A tip, never make blanket statements about vintage Rolex, that way lies embarrassment. :)

Here are three of them, your assignment, go find more. :)

[mdicomo]

Great watch !

[freen]

i apologise for my late reply. but the watch is a 1603 as noted on the case. the case also matches the year the movement was produced in. the weird thing is that to "franken" it someone would have had to source the dial hands and datewheel, while being somewhat period accurate

[Richard Carver]

Nothing franken about it, You have one noob yelling franken with three of them looking back at you. Search Google image for more if you like, they are rare but not that hard to find. The black with white is more common.

Black/gold dials were available on SS 1601, 1603, SS 1600, 15XX and 66XX. Black with white is common and on very early examples there were some actual gilt/gloss dials available.

[ollyollyoxenfree]

Got one of these slate dial 1601s too from the 70s, early 5.2 million serial.

Wonder if these matte slate dial configurations were more rare.

[Vamp]

Honestly im not a vintage DJ guy, but wow im really digging the color of this dial, along with the yellowish date wheel! Nice find!

[freen]

Very much appreciate the clarification. was starting to get worried as apart from a few pictures i could not find anything else online.

[Jakku]

Looks nice that!

[freen]

anyone know if they demand any premiums?

[Richard Carver]

BTW, it's a 50 year old black dial, not gray.

[freen]

oh! so it is essentially a black dial that has faded to be this type of gray colour? would explain the few examples i found and the slight difference in colour