An Incoming DateJust 1603

[Old Expat Beast]

Hi Everyone,
Found this one for sale on the Forum about ten days ago, seller was in Florida. I wouldn’t usually buy a watch that I had not seen in person, but by a great stroke of luck and coincidence my good Forum friend Greg (Andromeda160) was on vacation nearby and he kindly offered to drive over and see it for me. With Greg’s green light, it was just up to me to negotiate a price and ask a few more questions. Other members also kindly offered expert opinions on the dial, etc.

Although the watch had been bumped up the for-sale section more than 20 times, it seemed to me that this was something special that had been overlooked. A 1966-stamped Datejust, with the original “rooftop” box with slotted insert intact, original 1968 papers from a USAF Base Exchange in Spain, the “Cigarette Card”, a service notice from Rolex Geneva mailed to the owner in New York in 1971, and the original red tag. The bracelet (stamped 3/67) is also in good condition, and the watch – obviously carefully worn over the last decades – has just been serviced.

As a journalist, the provenance and paper trail really appeal to me, and I have already discovered that the original owner was quite a character. But more of that another time. For now the photos, and I’ll let this beautiful watch speak for itself.

Thanks for reading.

[bubbaK]

Dope piece. Let us know about the previous owner. Those kinda stories are what makes the whole purchase even more exciting.

[dualcarb]

Congrats on a great buy Adam...I was also looking to purchase a 1603 or 16013. Looks like a really great piece and made all the more sweeter with a great history and paperwork.


Patrick

[nsumner]

Very nice

[mailman]

Congratulations Adam That's a beautiful watch and the fact that it's a complete set is a bonus

[Kingair]

Nice one Adam

Congrats !

HAGWe

[andromeda160]

I'm glad she made it! now whatever you do, don't use that box for cigarettes! lol

[Widows Son]

Gorgeous watch!!!! B&P make it even more so!!

[vcnyls]

Great looking! Congrats!

[joe100]

It finally made it! Congrats!!

[Ancestral Star]

Great find, Adam. My father's 1603 says hello. Enjoy your new watch

[Nycturbovr6]

Very nice! Congrats!

[zapokee]

Great find, Adam!

[irish john]

Congrats Adam ,, what a beautiful piece

[AdamPace]

Lovely watch!
These older datejusts are my favourite time only watches and are so versatile. I got three leather straps from wempe and rotate them.
Mines a ref 1600

[AK797]

Nice pick up Adam, love that box!

[Watch-Hunter]

Congrats on that great find. Sometimes its the story that goes with something that makes it that much more. Enjoy!

[crowncollection]

Nice one Adam

[Old Expat Beast]

Thanks everybody . One more thing perhaps worth mentioning is the VI/66 in the caseback. I had only heard of this 'misprinted' sixth-quarter mark showing up on the Sub 5513 and Exp 1016 before now.

[andromeda160]

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

Thanks everybody . One more thing perhaps worth mentioning is the VI/66 in the caseback. I had only heard of this 'misprinted' sixth-quarter mark showing up on the Sub 5513 and Exp 1016 before now.

Don't forget the rare "straight j" as well!!!!

[southtexas]

Very cool watch Adam, another iconic piece to add to the collection. I love the 6/9 markers, and the "straight J"!

Edit: by the way, I never noticed how a capital J shows on TRF. Well played.

[awl168]

Love the watch! Cannot wait for the story of the original owner.

[Dries]

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

Thanks everybody . One more thing perhaps worth mentioning is the VI/66 in the caseback. I had only heard of this 'misprinted' sixth-quarter mark showing up on the Sub 5513 and Exp 1016 before now.

Great find. Congrats!

[Old Expat Beast]

Thanks again everyone. I am still researching the watch's background and will put up some of it, while respecting the previous owner's privacy of course, on Monday.

[bubbaK]

Can't wait for Monday then!!!

[motoikkyu]

Very, very cool. I love the 1603.

[sea-dweller]

That's a beauty! Complete with B&P's also!

[Old Expat Beast]

Originally Posted by bubbaK

Can't wait for Monday then!!!

Ok, so here’s a rough background to the previous owner, but with no names mentioned, to protect family privacy.

It seems that he joined the Navy around the time of the Pearl Harbor attack, and stayed on for ten years until the early 1950s, when he transferred to the Air Force. He spent most of his career from then on in Continental Europe and England, where he brought up his identical triplet daughters. They joined the Navy on the same day in 1968, six months before he bought his DateJust in October that year.

‘Torrejon Exchange’ mentioned on the papers is the USAF Base Exchange at Torrejon Air Base near Seville, Spain. Either at this time (if he was on a base visit) or soon after, he was based at Tempelhof Central Airport in West Berlin, where his Communications Squadron was responsible for monitoring the safety of military and commercial flights using the three flightpaths crossing from Western Europe over East Germany into West Berlin.

He retired to California with his wife, where he bought and maintained a Cessna light plane for their own use. He passed away a few years ago, aged 86. I hope I can look after his Rolex and keep it in as great condition over the coming years as he kept it for the last 50. It will be an honour to do so.

Pics of Torrejon Air Base and Base Exchange (from around the time of the guarantee papers date) sourced from the Internet.

[southtexas]

Cool story, thanks Adam.

[JayAK]

Great watch and fantastic story! Thanks for sharing.