Datejust 1603 - Silver Dial - Engine-Turned Bezel - Box & Papers (ca. 1971)

Datejust 1603 - Silver Dial - Engine-Turned Bezel - Box & Papers (ca. 1971)

A well-preserved vintage Datejust in its purest steel form, the reference 1603 pairs a clean silver dial with the distinctive engine-turned bezel that defines this variant. It carries the honest character of an early-1970s Oyster Perpetual Datejust while retaining the timeless elegance that has made the model an icon since 1945.

Details:

• Reference: 1603
• Year: ca. 1971
• Case Size: 36mm, stainless steel Oyster case
• Bezel: Steel engine-turned bezel
• Dial: Silver with applied baton hour markers, printed "Rolex Oyster Perpetual Datejust / Superlative Chronometer Officially Certified" text and Cyclops-magnified date at 3 o'clock
• Movement: Rolex Caliber 1575, automatic, chronometer-certified, 19,800 vph, approx. 48-hour power reserve
• Bracelet: Jubilee bracelet in stainless steel with folding Rolex clasp
• Crystal: Acrylic (plexiglass) with Cyclops lens
• Water Resistance: Originally rated to 50 meters (vintage - not recommended for water contact)

Set Includes:

• Original Rolex outer and inner presentation box
• Original Rolex chronometer certificate / papers
• The watch on its Jubilee bracelet

Condition:

• Good overall condition with honest signs of use consistent with a watch of this age
• Silver dial clean and even, applied baton markers and hands intact
• Engine-turned bezel present and legible
• Acrylic crystal free of significant damage
• Movement running, all functions operating

The reference 1603 stands out as the steel-bezel counterpart to the more formal fluted-bezel 1601, offering a slightly sportier character while retaining the timeless silhouette of the classic 36mm Datejust.