Vintage 1968 Rolex Datejust 1601 Steel 18K YG Bezel Silver Dial Auto 36mm
By Rolex
Located in New York, NY
It is the configuration that most people picture when they think of a classic Rolex. Silver Sunburst And Yellow Gold This example from 1968 perfectly captures the appeal of the two...
Stainless Steel
Vintage Rolex Datejust Reference 1601 Two-Tone Watch, 1968
By Rolex
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
1968 Vintage Rolex Datejust Ref. 1601 Two Tone 14k Yellow Gold and Stainless Steel watch with Original Silver Dial with Unique Applied Gold Color Beveled Stick/Bar/Baton Markers with...
Rolex Midsize Datejust Ref 6627 18 Karat Rose Gold, circa 1968
By Rolex
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Rolex midsize Datejust ref 6627 18K rose gold circa 1968.
18k Gold, Rose Gold
Rolex Lady Datejust 1968 18ct Yellow Gold Automatic
By Rolex
Located in London, GB
A stunning and rare vintage example, this Rolex Lady Datejust is dated to 1968 by the serial number and is offered in exceptional condition throughout.
Yellow Gold
Rolex Steel Yellow Gold Datejust Turn-O-Graph Bezel, Ref 1625, 1968/69
By Rolex
Located in Long Beach, CA
LIFETIME SERVICE COMMITMENT This classic vintage Two Tone Rolex Datejust Turn-O-Graph has a custom made dial, made to Rolex of Switzerland specifications.
Yellow Gold, Steel
Sold
W 1.42 in L 1.74 in
Rolex Stainless Oyster Perpetual Datejust with a Custom Dial from 1968 or 1969
By Rolex
Located in Long Beach, CA
FACTORY / HOUSE: Rolex Watch Co. STYLE / REFERENCE: Datejust / Ref 1601 METAL / MATERIAL: Stainless Steel with 14Kt White Gold Fluted Bezel CIRCA / YEAR: 1968 / 1969 DIMENSIONS / SIZ...
14k Gold, Stainless Steel
Vintage 1968 Rolex Datejust 36MM 1601 Silver Dial Steel Yellow Gold Watch
By Rolex
Located in Houston, TX
Brand: Rolex Gender: Unisex Metal Type: 14K Yellow Gold & Stainless Steel Diameter: 36.00 mm Weight: 56.36 Grams 14K yellow gold and stainless steel ROLEX Swiss made watch. The ...
Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver, Steel
Rolex Stainless Steel Datejust Custom Dial Automatic Wristwatch Ref 1601
By Rolex
Located in Chicago, IL
Circa 1968 Rolex Datejust, 36 MM Reference 1601 Stainless Steel Waterproof Oyster case with Fluted Bezel, Caliber 1575 Automatic, self winding movement.
Stainless Steel
Rolex Two Tone Datejust with Rare Factory Original Linen Dial 1968
By Rolex
Located in Long Beach, CA
FACTORY / HOUSE: Rolex Watch Company STYLE / REFERENCE: Datejust / Reference 1601 METAL / MATERIAL: Two Tone Stainless Steel & 14Kt.
18k Gold, Stainless Steel
1968 Rolex Vintage Ladies Date Datejust Watch - Stainless Steel, 18K White Gold
By Rolex
Located in Suwanee, GA
We’re new to offering our carefully curated collection on 1stDibs, but we have sold over 10,000 fine watches and exceptionally served thousands of customers with a 5.0 star rating on...
White Gold, Stainless Steel
Sold
W 1.42 in L 1.74 in
Rolex Stainless Oyster Perpetual Datejust with a Custom Dial from 1968 or 1969
By Rolex
Located in Long Beach, CA
FACTORY / HOUSE: Rolex Watch Co. STYLE / REFERENCE: Datejust / Ref 1601 METAL / MATERIAL: Stainless Steel with 14Kt White Gold Fluted Bezel CIRCA / YEAR: 1968 / 1969 DIMENSIONS / SIZ...
14k Gold, Stainless Steel
Sold
W 1.42 in L 1.74 in
Rolex Stainless Oyster Perpetual Datejust with a Custom Dial from 1968 or 1969
By Rolex
Located in Long Beach, CA
FACTORY / HOUSE: Rolex Watch Co. STYLE / REFERENCE: Datejust / Reference 1601 / 1603 METAL / MATERIAL: Stainless Steel with 14Kt White Gold Fluted Bezel CIRCA / YEAR: Late 1960's DIM...
14k Gold, Stainless Steel
Rolex Stainless Steel Datejust Wristwatch circa 1968
By Rolex
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Rolex stainless steel Datejust wristwatch, Ref. 1601, serial number 1.8 million, circa 1968. 36mm case with engine-turned bezel and very pleasing original blue dial with applied inde...
Stainless Steel
Rolex Stainless Steel Datejust Wristwatch circa 1968
By Rolex
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Rolex stainless steel Datejust wristwatch with 14k white gold fluted bezel, Ref. 1601, serial number 1.8 million, circa 1968. 36mm full-size man's model with acrylic crystal and beau...
Stainless Steel
Rolex Stainless Steel Datejust Wristwatch circa 1968
By Rolex
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Rolex stainless steel Datejust wristwatch, Ref. 1601, serial number 1.9 million, circa 1968. 36mm full size model with 14k white gold fluted bezel and acrylic crystal, very beautiful...
Stainless Steel
Rolex Stainless Steel Datejust Wristwatch Ref 1601 1968
By Rolex
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Vintage Rolex Datejust ref 1601 case serial number 1.9 million circa 1968.
14k Gold, Stainless Steel, White Gold
Vintage Rolex Datejust Reference 1603 Stainless Steel Watch, 1968
By Rolex
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
1968 Vintage Rolex Datejust Ref. 1603 Stainless Steel watch with Original Silver Dial with Applied Steel Stick/Bar/Baton Markers with Black Inlay with Original Rolex Stainless Steel ...
Vintage Rolex Datejust Reference 1601 Two-Tone Watch, 1968
By Rolex
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
1968 Vintage Rolex Datejust Ref. 1601 Two Tone 14k Yellow Gold and Stainless Steel watch with Original Champagne Sigma Dial with Applied Solid Gold Stick/Bar/Baton Markers with Origi...
Rolex Datejust ref 1601 18K Yellow Gold circa 1968
By Rolex
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Vintage Rolex Datejust ref 1601,18K yellow gold 36mm case with a 2.4 million serial number, circa 1968.
18k Gold
Rolex Stainless Steel Datejust Wristwatch Ref 1601 circa 1968
By Rolex
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Vintage Rolex Datejust ref 1601 case serial number 1.8 million circa 1968.
Stainless Steel
Rolex Stainless Steel & White Gold Datejust Automatic Wristwatch, circa 1968
By Rolex
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Rolex Stainless Steel Datejust ref # 1601 serial# 1.7 million circa 1968. 36mm diameter case with 14K white gold fluted bezel and acrylic crystal.
14k Gold, White Gold, Stainless Steel
Rolex Steel Datejust Watch with Custom Orange Dial circa 1968
By Rolex
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Rolex stainless steel Datejust wristwatch, Ref. 1603, serial number 1.8 million, circa 1968. 36mm case with 14k white gold fluted bezel.
Rolex Steel Gold Datejust ref. 1601 circa 1968
By Rolex
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Rolex SS & pink gold Datejust ref 1601 serial # 1.8 million circa 1968 with 14K pink gold fluted bezel, beautiful antique salmon pie pan dial with applied pink indexes and pink baton...
Stainless Steel, 18k Gold
Rolex Stainless Steel Black Pie Pan Dial Datejust Automatic Wristwatch 1968
By Rolex
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Rolex Datejust ref 1601 serial # 1.9 million circa 1968.
Stainless Steel
Rolex White Gold Stainless Steel Datejust Self-Winding Wristwatch, circa 1968
By Rolex
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Rolex Stainless Steel Datejust ref # 1601 serial# 1.8 million circa 1968. 36mm diameter case with 14K white gold fluted bezel and acrylic crystal.
14k Gold, White Gold, Stainless Steel
Rolex Datejust Stainless Steel and White Gold Ref 1601 circa 1968
By Rolex
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Rolex Datejust stainless steel ref 1601, serial# 2.3 million circa 1968.
White Gold, Stainless Steel
Rolex Stainless Steel Datejust self winding wristwatch Ref 1601, circa 1968
By Rolex
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Rolex Stainless Steel Datejust ref 1603 serial # 1.9 million circa 1968.
Stainless Steel
Vintage Rolex Datejust Reference 1600 14 Karat Gold and Stainless Steel, 1968
By Rolex
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
1968 Vintage Rolex Datejust Rare Ref. 1600 Two Tone 14k Yellow Gold and Stainless Steel watch with Original Rare Champagne/Gold Dial with Applied Gold Color Stick/Bar/Baton Markers w...
Rolex Rose Gold Salmon Dial Datejust Wristwatch Ref 6627 circa 1968
By Rolex
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Rolex 18K Rose Gold Midsize Datejust ref 6627 circa 1968.
18k Gold, Rose Gold
Sold
W 1.42 in Dm 1.42 in
Rolex Stainless Steel Datejust Wristwatch with Custom-Colored Dial circa 1968
By Rolex
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Rolex stainless steel Datejust wristwatch with custom-colored green dial, Ref. 1601, serial number 2.5 million, circa 1968. 36mm full-size man's model with smooth bezel and acrylic c...
Stainless Steel
Rolex Thunderbird Datejust Ref. 1625 14 Karat YG and SS Watch, 1968
By Rolex
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
1968 Vintage Rolex Thunderbird Turn-O-Graph Bezel Datejust Ref. 1625 Two Tone 14k Yellow Gold and Stainless Steel watch with Original Silver Dial with Attached Gold Stick/Bar/Baton M...
Rolex Datejust Stainless Steel and 14 Karat White Gold Ref 1601, circa 1968
By Rolex
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Rolex Datejust stainless steel and 14k white gold ref 1601, serial# 1.7 million circa 1968.
White Gold, Stainless Steel
Rolex Datejust Oyster Bracelet Vintage Men’s Watch 1603 Year 1968
By Rolex
Located in Atlanta, GA
Rolex Datejust Oyster Bracelet Vintage Mens Watch 1603 Year 1968.
Stainless Steel
While the rise in popularity of vintage Rolex watches is of no surprise to aficionados, collectors and industry experts, when it comes to contemporary luxury wristwatches, Rolex is also often the first brand that springs to mind. Not only is the company revered for its precision timekeeping and impeccable craftsmanship, but its name was designed to be memorable.
Rolex's enviable worldwide recognition can be credited in part to the genius of company founder Hans Wilsdorf. When the German-born watch dealer and his brother-in-law, Alfred Davis, set up their London enterprise, in 1905, they called it Wilsdorf & Davis, according to the traditional formula.
But Wilsdorf was determined to come up with another name that was short, would look good on a watch dial and was easy to say and remember in several languages. In 1908, he trademarked the name Rolex, and by 1920, he had moved the company to Geneva and redubbed it as Montres Rolex S.A.
But the main reasons for the brand’s success are its aforementioned commitment to precision and unflagging pursuit of innovation. In 1926, the company introduced the aptly named Oyster model. With a screw-down crown and case back, both fitted with rubber gaskets, this was the first truly waterproof watch.
Five years later, Rolex upped the ante with the Oyster Perpetual. That model’s patented Perpetual movement contained a rotor mechanism enabling it to self-wind. In another trendsetting move, in 1945, the brand debuted the Datejust, with a date window prominently displayed on the dial.
The company’s two most iconic models are sports watches. Although the Submariner, which debuted in 1953, was developed as a dive watch, its waterproof case, solid construction and good looks made it a favorite of adventurers and urbanites alike, including James Bond, who wore it in classics like Dr. No and Goldfinger. The Daytona, the racing chronograph made famous by Paul Newman, is especially sought after by collectors. Newman’s personal Daytona, which hit the auction block in 2017, sold for $17.8 million.
Find vintage Rolex watches, bracelets and more on 1stDibs.
Antique, vintage and luxury wristwatches have captured the hearts and minds of all manner of watch collectors as well as the watchmakers themselves — it's time you found your own.
Certain vintage watches for men and iconic watch designs for women are sought after not only because of their graceful proportions or innovative materials but also because of the illustrious histories of the houses that created them, histories that they stylishly embody.
Bulgari’s legendary Serpenti watch was on everyone’s list after the collection’s bold bracelet, which technically debuted after the timepiece, graced the wrist of actress Elizabeth Taylor. If anything, elaborately crafted timepieces — the unmistakably boxy silhouette of Cartier Tank watches, the elegant and minimal Calatrava designed by legendary Swiss house Patek Philippe — are even more effective than the shape we associate with traditional wristwatches.
Form watches — the all-encompassing moniker bestowed upon non-round watches — are making headlines and completing contemporary fashionable ensembles the world over. At the same time, both casual fans and careful collectors are drawn to the unbeatable charm of vintage styles, such as the icons designed by Omega that even James Bond can’t resist.
In the early days of watchmaking, watches were fragile enough that they necessitated protection from the elements. Now, wristwatches made of gold and steel can withstand the harshest climates — even 100 meters underwater, in the case of Rolex’s Submariner. Designer Gérald Genta, whose range of clients included Rolex, created for Audemars Piguet the first luxury sports timepiece to be made from stainless steel. First introduced in 1972, the Royal Oak was a perfect choice for blending the form and function that are now synonymous with sports watches.
Are you shopping for a wristwatch? It’s good to keep your needs as well as your specific personal style in mind: A smaller, subtle timepiece is a good fit for small wrists. When will you be wearing your new accessory? There’s a versatile model out there for everyday wear, while a rugged, feature-heavy watch is a safe bet if you’re prone to embarking on all-weather activities in the great outdoors.
Find antique, vintage and luxury wristwatches for sale on 1stDibs.
A fresh palette of dial colors and technological advances have elevated this classic watch model.
The watch has transformed several times over, but it’s still undeniably a classic.
This is perhaps the least subtle version of the Submariner.
If you think this looks like the Rolex Kermit, you're correct.
This model was designed for lefties.
Learn the devious techniques that counterfeiters use to sell inauthentic pieces at authentic prices. Of course, you don't have to worry about that on 1stDibs, where every seller of Rolex watches is highly vetted.
From understanding the models to choosing among vintage, pre-owned and new watches, here’s our expert advice on finding the best Rolex for you.
As the cache goes on display at London’s Design Museum, we speak to its enigmatic owner about some of his rarest acquisitions.