Here is a very collectable gents 18 carat yellow gold and stainless steel Rolex 1601 with the rare Sigma dial.
There are many Rolex 1601's around, however this one not only has a dial that has such a wonderful soft yellow-champagne colour, but it has the incredibly hard to find sigma dial.
To begin with, a bit about the sigma dial. Looking at the bottom of this dial, you will note that on each side of the T Swiss T, there is the Greek letter, sigma which can be seen here σ. What this subtle yet important mark designates, is that the hands and index markers are in solid gold. Used by a few watch companies in Switzerland from 1970, it was among its main reason to signify when gold parts were on the dial to subsequently add to both the financial and intrinsic value of a watch.
With the case measuring the iconic 36mm across plus the Rolex screw down crown, it is fitted on the earlier style of Rolex Jubilee band that is also made in 18 carat yellow gold and stainless steel. With a lovely soft tactile feel to the band that wraps around the wrist, inside the watch is the 26 jewelled automatic Rolex calibre 1570 that runs perfect and comes with our twelve month warranty.
The Rolex 1601 has become such a collectable Rolex model, and this one with the sigma dial, is such a fascinating version that will always continue to be such a wonderful conversation starter.
Stock# W1561cc
Maker: Rolex
Model: Rolex Oyster Perpetual Datejust reference 1601
Circa: 1973
$Sold
Out of stock
18 carat gold and steel Rolex 1601 with the rare Sigma dial
This vintage Rolex 1601 was made in 1973 and has the rare sigma dial. Made in 18 carat yellow gold and stainless steel, the dial has such a lovely soft champagne-yellow colour.
A brief history on the sigma dials:
The history behind sigma dials is a very interesting one which has now made watches with these dials highly sought after. The sigma dial is discreetly marked with the Greek letter sigma (σ) on each end of the T SWISS T or SWISS at the bottom of the dial. From 1970, watch companies who were members of the le Association pour la Promotion Industrielle de Or (APRIOR), such as Rolex, Patek Philippe, IWC, Omega and Vacheron & Constantin to name a few, produced dials with the sigma letter to notify that the hands and index markers are made in gold. This was used at a time when the Japanese "quartz revolution" started coming in, and sigma dials were produced for one main reason to notify when gold parts were used on a watch, including the dial to subsequently add to both the financial and intrinsic value of a watch. An important and quite interesting point to note, is that the sigma dials can be found on watches that are made all in stainless steel ie case, band and bezel, but with a sigma dial, not the index markers and hands.
Kalmar Antiques now employ a Rolex trained watchmaker on site!
When we expanded and renovated our store in late 2022, we put in a full watchmaking and polishing workshop. We also employ two watchmakers, and one who used to work for Rolex for nearly seven years. This allows us to be able to service your Rolex to Rolex standards, as well as other watch brands such as Omega, Cartier and Patek Philippe to name a few.
Kalmar Antiques are a fully authorised OMEGA watch service centre allowing us to service your Omega watch on-site.
We recommend to service your Rolex every five years. If you wear the watch in water, we strongly suggest having your Rolex watch, or any watch for that matter, pressure tested once a year.
Click here to see more Rolex watches currently in store:
https://www.kalmarantiques.com.au/product-category/watches/rolex-watches-watches/
Click here to go to the Rolex website:
