Rolex Datejust 1601/8 Cappuccino

Introduced in 1945, the Datejust quickly became the reference point for what an everyday Rolex should be: balanced proportions, the fluted bezel, and the date window that would go on to define a whole category. In solid yellow gold, the same blueprint takes on a warmer, more assertive character, while losing none of its discretion.

This ref. 1601/8 dates to 1974 and is in 18k yellow gold. The case is in excellent condition, still thick and faithful to its original proportions, with a fluted bezel that retains its sharp, crisp edges, a detail that is increasingly hard to find on gold examples of this age.

The real protagonist is the dial: a beautiful Cappuccino tone whose light-coloured printing has softened over time into the so-called ‘Ghost’ effect. The printing blends into the warm background while the applied gold indexes stand out, creating a monochromatic, almost tone-on-tone look that feels both vintage and surprisingly contemporary for a watch from the 70s. To let the dial speak for itself, the crystal has been replaced with one without the Cyclops magnifier, giving a cleaner, uninterrupted view across the whole surface.

The watch has just been serviced by our watchmakers and is running perfectly. It is fitted with a generic strap and buckle and comes as watch only.