1978 Rolex Datejust 36mm Linen Dial Engine-Turned Bezel 1603

Here we have a 1978 Rolex Datejust Linen Dial Engine-Turned Bezel 1603, featuring a 36mm stainless steel Oyster case that gently curves towards the tapered, drilled lugs for easy strap changing. The lug-to-lug length measures 43mm, and the thickness is 12mm, ensuring a comfortable fit on your wrist. On the right side, a signed screw-down crown with deep knurling for extra grip. Polished and brushed surfaces transition with crisp edges, the engine-turned bezel holds a domed crystal above a rare pie-pan linen dial. An outer minute track is precisely printed with Tritium lume pips at hourly intervals, and applied chamfered-edged baton indexes catch the light magically as you rotate your wrist. At 3 o’clock, a date window with a cyclops magnification on the crystal. Elegant baton hands have chamfered edges and Tritium lume infill complemented by a finely tapered sweeping second hand. At 12 o’clock, an applied Rolex crown, text is printed accurately at 12 “Rolex Oyster Perpetual DateJust” and at 6 o’clock “Superlative Chronometer Officially Certified”. On the reverse, a coin-edged screw-down case back houses an automatic Rolex Cal. 1570, featuring 26 jewels and a beat rate of 19,800 beats per hour. This movement was first introduced in 1965 and remained in production until 1974. It comes paired with an original polished and brushed 20mm folded-link Rolex Jubilee bracelet, featuring a Rolex folding clasp.

This watch is sold as "Watch Only" and therefore comes with no original Rolex box or Rolex papers. It comes paired with a very nice 20mm folded-link Rolex Jubilee bracelet, featuring a Rolex folding clasp. The watch is from Circa. 1978 and is in worn, vintage condition, as you can see from the photos. Overall, however, the watch is very good for its age, and the linen dial is completely original. The watch comes with our 12-Months NON-Waterproof Warranty.

Whilst the Rolex Submariner, GMT & Daytona often receive all the attention in the watch world, I still feel the Rolex Datejust is easily one of the best models they have made. It's versatile and in 36mm incredibly easy to wear, it's relatively low key, and there's a ton of variants and examples to choose from in vintage, neo-vintage and modern. This reference 1603 is a brilliant example with a strong case and, most strikingly, a lovely original linen dial. I would not hesitate to add one of these to your collection whilst you still can for a relatively affordable price!

Reference : 1603
Movement : Automatic Rolex Cal. 1570
Age : Circa. 1978
Year : 1978
Case Size : 36mm
Case Thickness : 12mm
Lug to Lug : 43mm
Lugs : 20mm
Condition : Pre-Owned
Box and Papers : None
Case Material : Stainless Steel
Warranty : 12 Months NON-Waterproof Warranty
The wrist model's wrist size is 7inch

In 1905, German-born Hans Wilsdorf and his brother-in-law Alfred Davis set up a company in London that imported Swiss movements which are installed in British cases and sold to jewellers who put their names on the dials. Recognising the potential for their brand, Wilsdorf created the brand name Rolex in 1908. In 1910, a Rolex became the first wristwatch to carry the Swiss Certificate of Chronometric Precision, awarded by the Official Watch Rating Centre in Bienne, Switzerland. Demand for Rolex watches rose swiftly, and British taxes on the Swiss movements Rolex used prompted Wilsdorf to move the business to Geneva, Switzerland, in 1919. With production costs lowered, Wilsdorf quickly set out to solve the age-old problem of moisture and dust entering a watch case and damaging the movement. The Rolex watchmakers came up with a fully sealed watch case, which Wilsdorf named the Oyster, and released to an appreciative audience in 1926. In 1931, Rolex introduced the first automatic winding wristwatch, giving it the legendary name Oyster Perpetual. In 1945, they released Datejust. The Datejust was the first watch to have the date jump instantaneously at midnight. The 1950s saw a whole lot of releases such as the Air-King (1958), the Explorer (1953), the Submariner (1953), the GMT Master (1955), the Day-Date (1956), the electromagnetic field resistant Milgauss (1956), the Lady-Datejust (1957) and the first Deep Sea model (1960). Wilsdorf’s death in 1960, saw ownership of Rolex S.A. (a collection of sub-companies) passed to the Hans Wilsdorf Foundation which was founded by Wilsdorf in 1945, the mission of which is simply to sustain Rolex S.A. indefinitely.