Rolex Datejust 1603 « Sigma » Silver year 1975

This Rolex Datejust reference 1603 in steel, with a fluted steel bezel, was produced in 1975. It is equipped with a steel Jubilee bracelet. Its dial, nicknamed the “Sigma Dial,” is perfectly preserved and sought after by connoisseurs. The luminescent material dots at the end of the indices and on the hands have developed a beautiful, uniformly egg-shell patina.

This watch is part of the famous and appreciated Datejust 160x series, known for their “pie-pan” dials, giving them an obvious vintage charm.

In very good overall condition and recently serviced by a qualified watchmaker, this Datejust is an excellent introduction for anyone looking to discover the collection of vintage watches, while being perfectly usable daily due to its build quality and the reliability of its automatic movement.

Vintage watch enthusiasts will sometimes notice the presence of the “σ” (Sigma) symbol on the dials of prestigious brands, such as Rolex. Introduced in the early 1970s, this symbol indicates that the visible elements, such as hour indices and sometimes the hands, are made of gold.

This specification was encouraged by the Association for the Industrial Promotion of Gold (APRIOR) to enhance Swiss watches against international competition and highlight the superior quality of the components used. The use of gold not only increases the intrinsic value of the watch (the price of gold almost quadrupled between 1970 and 1974) but also enhances its aesthetics with a distinct shine and refined finish.

The presence of Sigma symbols is mainly observed near the “T SWISS T” marking at the bottom of the dial. Not all dials with precious metal decorations carry this sign, making models with this feature particularly attractive to collectors.

This characteristic, in addition to being an indicator of quality and luxury, also serves as a historical point of interest, illustrating a time when the Swiss watch industry sought to distinguish itself through the unmatched quality of its products.

The movement powering this Datejust, a mechanical self-winding caliber Rolex 1570, has recently undergone a complete overhaul by a vintage model specialist watchmaker and operates within the strictest tolerances.

This beautiful Datejust is presented in excellent overall condition.

The well-preserved case features wide, satin-finished lugs as it did when this watch was first produced in 1975. The fluted steel bezel is well-defined, with sharp grooves and bright facets.

The silver Sigma dial is flawless, and the tritium luminous dots are intact, round, and uniformly patinated. During a recent service, the plexiglass crystal was replaced with a new one for perfect transparency.

The Jubilee bracelet, slightly newer than the watch and more robust than the models mounted by Rolex in the 1970s, is preserved in excellent condition. The Rolex crown stamped on the clasp is perfectly crisp.

The movement powering this Datejust, a mechanical self-winding caliber Rolex 1570, has recently undergone a complete overhaul by a vintage model specialist watchmaker and operates within the strictest tolerances, with impeccable readings of ± 0 seconds/day, 296° amplitude, and 0.2 ms beat error.

In short, a piece nearly 50 years old yet ideally preserved both aesthetically and mechanically!