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Datejust · 1959 to 1977
“Pie-Pan Datejust”
Grade B · 72/100Today's call: Value buy
B: solid, selective. Ranked #80 of 129 references in The Crown Index vault.
| Original retail (1968) | $390 |
|---|---|
| Market today | $4,500 – $7,000 |
| Vs original retail | +1374% |
| 1-year trend | +6% |
The quintessential vintage Datejust with the stepped 'pie-pan' dial. Millions made, so originality, not rarity, sets the price.
At $4,500 to $7,000 it is the cheapest real vintage Rolex worth owning, and the small-watch trend is pulling it upward.
The 'pie-pan' dial, with its angled outer rim like an inverted dish, is one of the prettiest things Rolex ever mass-produced, and the 1601 made it by the hundreds of thousands across nearly two decades.
This is arguably the best value in all of vintage Rolex: a 36mm gold-bezel chronometer with real mid-century elegance for the price of a modern service. Sigma dials and original finishes separate collector examples from the merely old.
Our verdict: Best vintage entry point. Spend your budget on dial condition, not on box and papers.
| Sizes | 36mm |
|---|---|
| Case & bracelet material | Oystersteel (stainless) |
| Factory bracelet | Jubilee or Oyster (Jubilee most common) |
| Factory bezels | Fluted white or yellow gold |
| Notable dials | Silver 'pie-pan'; Linen; Sigma dials |
| Caliber | 1565 / 1575 |
| Production | 1959 to 1977 (discontinued) |
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