I’ve been developing a much greater interest in vintage DateJusts recently and saw this today.

Appears to be a 1601 with a gold coloured dial, but white gold bezel and a fully steel jubilee. The jubilee is dated 2 70 so appears to be contemporary (but original?).

I’m just struggling to find a similar example with this configuration. Everything I can find with a gold dial is in two tone.

Any thoughts - is this a legitimate variation or should it have a yellow gold bezel and two tone bracelet?

 

Looks like someone switched the dial. You could always try to get a good price on it and then find another dial. So many of these are incorrect in some way, the bracelets rarely seem to be from the same year as the case. Most are over polished.

 

HUH? That bracelet is a folded jubilee which matches the watch just fine. Also, gold colored dials on Stainless Rolexes might not be hugely prevalent, but they did come that way from the factory. Especially pre-sapphire.

 

Thanks @janice&fred

It’s a unique look and I was struggling to think it could have come with a white gold rather than yellow gold bezel. Especially as I was struggling to find other examples.

Good to hear you think it’s legit.

 

Oh that combo is legit, and some of the snazziest looking watches from the 60's and 70's.

 

Similar to @janice&fred I too like the look of this unusual vintage Datejust. But did the watch leave the factory with this dial? I have my doubts.

 

I believe this was discussed years ago on the vintage Rolex forum and many examples were posted by myself and others to support the originality. Datejusts, dates and 6694's were the most prevalent to come in this configuration back in the day. There were quite a few other brands that offered the same gold dial/stainless case style back in the 50's 60's and 70's. The most prominent was Seiko I believe.

 

OK @janice&fred

 

I couldn't agree on a price with the seller in the end which was a shame as I liked the overall look and bracelet.

I'm kinda pebble-dashing DateJusts at the minute as they're my new area of interest so I'm sure another will be along shortly.

Unfortunately for me the cheaper 6694, OP's, OP Dates and AirKings are too small for my wrists so DJ's it is for now.

 

Datejust dials are switched very often. I wouldn't be surprised if it was switched out at some point in its life.

 

Datejusts have always been my favorite model Rolex.

 

Yes along with many other models and especially presidents. However the combo posted by the OP is in fact a legit version. Most vintage watches always have the possibility of part swapping so there really is no way of knowing in most cases unless the combo is incompatible.