Ref.1601/8 with Rivet bracelet

The Datejust is a standard in vintage Rolex and has spearheaded the recent trend in dress models. Its simple design makes it easily wearable for many, and we at AFTER have introduced many of them, including the Ref. 1601.

Even a model that can be considered a classic in some respects can become an extraordinarily special piece depending on its detailed specifications and condition.

The one we're introducing today is such a piece. It's an ultimate Datejust made of 18K yellow gold, featuring a perfectly preserved mirror dial and its original rivet bracelet.

The striking mirror dial retains its pristine luster from that era, and the luminous material is perfectly intact without any deterioration. The hands are also of a type seen only in the very early models. This is a crucial detail that completely changes the overall atmosphere.

Even the bezel is of an earlier specification with finer fluting. With this bezel, the perfectly lustrous mirror dial, the completely intact luminous material, and the very early hands, it's no exaggeration to say that all possible specifications for a Ref. 1601 Datejust are fulfilled.

And most impressively, the rivet bracelet, like the watch head, is also made of 18K yellow gold.

At the time, other bracelets manufactured for Rolex dress watches included the Jubilee bracelet and the President bracelet. Among them, this rivet bracelet is particularly popular for its excellent aesthetic.

However, because the rivet bracelet was not popular at the time of its release, there is an overwhelmingly small number of them, and some collectors are specifically searching for this bracelet alone.

Furthermore, even among rivet bracelets, there are individual differences in the end links, so it's impossible to tell if the watch head and bracelet will match without actually trying them together.

It's very rare not only to find a rivet bracelet itself but also to find one that perfectly matches the watch head.

The rivet bracelet, with its side-crimping design, offers an exceptional aesthetic. While rivet bracelets also exist for sports models, they cannot be used for dress models due to differences in end link shape.

When collecting vintage Rolex, it's common to search for a piece that satisfies one's preferences amidst various trade-offs in specifications and condition.

However, regarding this particular piece we've introduced, there isn't a single aspect that makes you wish it were better.

In particular, the combination of the dial's condition and the rivet bracelet is almost unheard of, and there are no compromises in any of the other specifications either.

If the Daytona is the king of sports watches, then this can be said to be the king of dress watches. It is undoubtedly a special among specials, packed with everything one could hope for in a simple design.