Rolex Datejust Ref. 1601/8 'Black Matte' Dial 1971

$14,950.00 NZD

The Rolex Datejust Ref. 1601/8 in 18k yellow gold is one of the most enduring and quietly distinguished configurations the reference has been offered in — the Datejust at its most precious, produced across a long run from the mid-1960s through to the early 1980s, and wearing the black matte pie-pan dial in a combination that gives the watch a depth and formality that the more common white or silver dial configurations do not replicate. The pie-pan dial — with its distinctive stepped, concave profile — was the earlier and more architecturally considered of the two dial profiles offered on the 1601 family, and the black matte variant in particular has aged into one of the most sought-after combinations in the vintage Datejust canon.

Rolex Datejust Ref. 1601/8 'Black Matte' Dial 1971

The Rolex Datejust Ref. 1601/8 in 18k yellow gold is one of the most enduring and quietly distinguished configurations the reference has been offered in — the Datejust at its most precious, produced across a long run from the mid-1960s through to the early 1980s, and wearing the black matte pie-pan dial in a combination that gives the watch a depth and formality that the more common white or silver dial configurations do not replicate. The pie-pan dial — with its distinctive stepped, concave profile — was the earlier and more architecturally considered of the two dial profiles offered on the 1601 family, and the black matte variant in particular has aged into one of the most sought-after combinations in the vintage Datejust canon.

Details
- Maker
  
  Rolex
- Model
  
  Datejust
- Reference
  
  1601/8
- Year
  
  1971
- Serial
  
  260XXXX
- Box & Papers
  
  No
- Movement
  
  Caliber. 1575, automatic w/ 48-hour power reserve
- Dial & Hands
  
  Black 'matte' pie pan dial w/ Chromalight lume; 18k yellow gold baton hands w/ Chromalight lume
- Bezel
  
  Fluted, 18k yellow gold
- Crystal
  
  Plexiglass
- Bracelet/Strap
  
  Artisan Straps black Epsom leather strap w/ gold plated buckle
- Performance
  
  Watch is fully functioning and running at +3 seconds per day
- Service History
  
  Serviced August 2026
Dimensions
- Diameter: 36mm
- Thickness: 12mm
- Lug width: 20mm
- Lug-to-lug: 44mm
Materials

18k yellow gold

The black matte pie-pan dial is the defining detail of this example — the pie-pan profile, with its stepped concave form, was the earlier and more architecturally resolved of the two dial configurations offered on the 1601 family, and the black matte variant in particular has become one of the more sought-after combinations in the vintage Datejust market
The Ref. 1601/8 in 18k yellow gold is a precious metal Datejust at a case size and proportional language that the current Datejust 36 does not offer — and one that wears with the quiet authority of a watch designed for a generation that expected gold to be worn, not kept
Serviced by our watchmaker in 2026 and fully functioning, this Ref. 1601/8 is ready to wear without reservation. The Caliber 1575 is a robust and well-regarded movement, and a fresh service ensures the next owner inherits both the history and the reliability

Minor scuffs on lugs
Minor hairline scratches throughout the case
Minor dent on caseback (movement not impacted)

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