Datejust family · 110 references Rolex

Datejust 1601

Name: Rolex Datejust 1601
Brand: Rolex
Availability: InStock

36mm Popular Model Good Value

Low $3,800

Median $4,250

High $4,750

Search Datejust 1601 Listings

The Rolex Datejust 1601 pairs a fluted bezel with a “pie-pan” dial, whose sloping outer edge gives the face a depth that later, flatter Datejust dials lose. Under a domed acrylic crystal, that little drop at the minute track makes even a plain silver dial worth lingering over.

For a first vintage Datejust, a later 1601 with caliber 1575 is a familiar starting point, though it still predates the quickset date: changing the calendar means advancing the hands through midnight. Steel examples with white-gold bezels feel restrained; steel-and-yellow-gold versions give the same design a warmer register. Pay particular attention to the dial’s printing and outer slope, since refinishing can blur the details that distinguish this generation. Replacement service dials can also change its character, and a heavily polished fluted bezel loses the crisp light-and-shadow effect that makes the reference so recognizable.

MovementAutomatic

Case Size36mm

Lug Width20mm

What owners love

The pie-pan dial gives the face a depth that later, flatter Datejust dials don't have. Its sloping outer edge and the distortion around the acrylic crystal make it particularly satisfying to look at from an angle.
The 36mm case sits neatly under a cuff, while the fluted bezel gives it enough presence that it doesn't feel plain. Owners often like that it works with casual clothes without feeling like they're wearing a dress watch out of place.

Common Criticisms

There's no quickset date, so correcting it means turning the hands through the intervening days. It's a genuine nuisance if you rotate watches and frequently come back to it with the date well behind.
The acrylic crystal picks up small scratches more readily than sapphire. Light marks can usually be polished out, but owners who want an always-clear, unmarked crystal find the upkeep irritating.

Datejust 1601

What owners love

Common Criticisms

Reviews & Videos

Right Now on eBay

Recent Forum Listings

Datejust References at a Similar Price

Other Rolex Models