Rolex Datejust

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SKU AS01915
SKU AS01915

Why We Love it

We might often wonder at the secret of Rolex’s success. During the Quartz Crisis, so many brands were forced to close their doors, or merge with competitors simply to stay afloat. And yet Rolex remained independent and privately-owned.

The Crown has weathered two World Wars, the Great Depression, and the Quartz Crisis—and even now, when the Swiss watch industry is undergoing a fallow period, Rolex has never been stronger.

Theirs is a story of survival, of adaptation to meet the changing demands of customers, and above all tenacity. When faced with the Japanese quartz technology, many Swiss brands—including Rolex—dabbled with it, either implementing it into their collections or switching over to Quartz entirely, often to disastrous results. True, Rolex released a Quartz version of the Datejust (the Oysterquartz).

But that was only ancillary to what Rolex had made its speciality ever since founder Hans Wilsdorf went into business with his brother-in-law in the 1900s: robust Swiss mechanical watches that could withstand the rigors of daily wear.

It’s in the Datejust that one sees the purity of Hans Wilsdorf’s vision. Since its inception in the mid-1940s, the Datejust has been the bedrock of the Oyster Perpetual collection. More than the Submariner or the GMT Master—which, whatever they may look like now, had their genesis as tool watches—the Datejust is versatile.

Simply put, there’s a Datejust for every environment, professional or casual. It’s been cast in steel, gold, or steel-and-gold (a combination Rolex calls Rolesor), with a bracelet that even has a name—the Jubilee. Yet it looks good on leather paired with a tailored blazer, or on a nylon strap and a pair of chinos.

This particular Datejust is a Reference 1603 with a serial that puts it in the mid-1970s—right when the watch industry was in a state of flux. Yet if you didn’t know that bit of information, you wouldn’t be able to tell when it was produced just by looking at it. A Datejust looks like a Datejust, whether from the 1960s or today.

The 1603, with its engine-turned steel bezel and Oyster bracelet, is definitely one of the sportier iterations; but that glorious grey pie pan dial gives it a touch of class.

A:S Guarantee

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Our Pledge

Analog:Shift stands behind the authenticity of our products in perpetuity.

Condition

Since our pieces are vintage or pre-owned, please expect wear & patina from usage and age. Please read each item description and examine all product images.

Warranty

We back each Analog:Shift vintage timepiece with a one-year mechanical warranty from the date of purchase.

International Buyers

Please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.

Shipping & Returns

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All of our watches include complementary insured shipping within the 50 states.

Most of our products are on hand and will ship directly from our headquarters in New York City. In some cases, watches will be shipped directly from one of our authorized partners.

We generally ship our products via FedEx, fully insured, within 5 business days of purchase. An adult signature is required for receipt of all packages for insurance purposes. Expedited shipping is available at an additional cost. We are also happy to hand deliver your purchase in Manhattan or you may pick it up at our showroom.

Returns must be sent overnight or by priority international delivery, fully insured and paid for by the customer. A restocking fee may apply. Watches must be returned in the same condition as initially shipped.

We welcome international buyers, please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.

Rolex Datejust

Rolex Datejust

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Rolex Datejust

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