Rolex Datejust 1603 "Sigma Dial", 1964, Men's Vintage Watch

A lovely example of the Rolex Datejust 1603 from circa 1964 featuring a rare "Sigma" dial. The Datejust is one of our favourite Rolex's, a watch more suited to those who prefer understated elegant over in your face bling!

This particular Rolex Datejust reference 1603 features a Sigma pie pan dial. Pie Pan dials are so-called due to the angled outer ring on the dial that makes it resemble an inverted pie pan. It gives the watch a subtle 3D effect that adds an additional point of interest to an already beautiful watch. The sigma reference points to what appears to read O T Swiss T O but in fact, reads σ T Swiss T σ. 

"σ" is the lowercase Greek letter for "Sigma", the mark used by a group of Swiss watchmakers in the 1970s who were part of the L’Association pour la Promotion Industrielle de l’Or or APIOR (The Association for the Industrial Promotion of Gold). Their goal was to highlight the use of gold on watches during a period (1970-1974) when the price of gold almost quintupled.

Whilst the trademark for the Sigma mark was registered in August 1971 there are numerous examples of watches known to be original from the late 1960s that featured Sigma dials. The exact year when these started to appear is still debated but to lean on the side of caution we would say it is unlikely to not have stretched back to 1964. The conclusion then is whilst the current dial is an original dial, it was likely fitted at a later date. It should be noted that changing of dials on vintage Rolex's is by no means uncommon and a practice Rolex themselves are well known for doing in the past when watches were sent for service.

Condition wise the dial is in overall excellent condition except for a section at the base of the dial (mainly hidden from view) which shows age related marks. The rest of the watch remains in good shape with a case that has not been over polished, a fully serviced calibre 1560 movement and a period Rolex Jubilee bracelet ref. 6251H​ from circa 1968. 

All in all this is a lovely vintage Datejust and one that we're confident will get a significant about of wrist time with its new owner!

Shipping:

For orders placed before 2pm orders will be shipped the same day.

Your watch will be carefully packaged and shipped fully insured with leading global courier companies.

Delivery Prices:

Delivery within the UK is Free. Delivery within Europe is £30. Delivery for the Rest of the World is £50.

Returns:

Don't like it or change your mind? Return it for a full refund with our 14 day, no hassle returns on all sales. See the full conditions here.

The Watches

Are all watches authenticated?

All our watches pass through a double authentication process to insure their authenticity. We also provide detailed photos of the watch from all angles to allow you to undertake your own anlysis. Finally as with everything, if you have any questions please do not hesitate to reach out to our friendly team

What if something goes wrong with the watch

Whilst all our watches are fully serviced before sale, if something does go wrong, we'll repair it for free as part of our 1 year warranty

Do watches come with original box and papers?

It depends on the individual watch. You can see details under "The Basics" heading on this page. For the majority of vintage watches their original box and papers have been lost to time. Whilst they are nice to have, it’s important to note that “box and papers” DO NOT authenticate a watch despite what many in our trade say. It’s also important to realise alot of sellers (including some of the most well known in the UK) put together full sets of box, papers, hang tags etc by buying blank paperwork and boxes in the secondary market. This is a very regrettable, but unfortunately common occurrence in the trade but something we will never do!

How do I know it will fit?

For metal bracelets we provide the size it will currently fit in the description section of this page. If this measurement is too large or too small we are able to assist in either adding or removing links. We also offer this service, post service on a at-cost basis (i.e. we don't add a margin).

Can you change the strap?

Absolutely! If you don't like the current strap, let us know and we'll change it for free! We maintain a broad selection of styles and can also source straps to your specification free of charge.

Can you source something similar?

Absolutely! If its not quite what you’re looking for just get in touch and we can source one with our Free, No Obligation sourcing service. You can contact us on phone, live chat or simply submit the details of what you’re looking for on our “Find a Watch” page.

Payment

What payment options do you offer?

We accept payment by all leading credit and debit cards, ApplePay as well as bank transfer.

Do you offer financing?

Currently we don't offer financing but it’s something we're exploring.

Shipping & Returns

Can you ship an order to arrive on a certain day?

We can certainly try! We can request with our shipment partners for delivery on a certain day but ultimately the exact delivery date is subject to a number of factors outside our control.

How do I return a watch?

Simply let us know you want to send the watch back within the 14 return period and return it to us via Royal Mail Special Delivery. We’ll process your refund the same day we receive the watch back.

Terms & Conditions

Terms & Conditions

You can find our full terms and conditions here.