Got a Datejust with a weird issue

[decker6869]

Maybe it is not weird to you fine folks but it is bugging me to no end.

I have an older style Datejust, 1601 model. I got it in December right before Christmas and it had an incident involving the date wheel getting stuck and not changing dates. I had it worked on in January because of that issue and it was also serviced. Upon getting it back and having more actual time to just stare at it I noticed something peculiar and I am hoping someone here might have an answer for me.

I noticed the roman numeral "I" 5 minute marker is indeed placed at the 6 minute mark. Is this possibly an error from factory as the dial appears original and untouched? Is this an easy fix? I am including a closeup photo here.

Any replies are appreciated. :)

[jatco]

It certainly is out of sync....
Are we sure of it's authenticity.. ?
Did you not notice this when you got it ?
Something is not right.!

[decker6869]

Yes it's authentic. I'll be going by my local AD today to see if they can add any info to it.

I didn't notice it when it first arrived because I was so enamored with it and then I had to take it to get that calendar issue fixed.

[jatco]

[decker6869]

I will definitely post updates to this thread as I go along. I got the watch from Overstock. it was a good deal. Was listed for 3500 but I had a coupon I was saving which brought it down to 2300ish. So aside from this oddity I think I got a deal? I'm not a Rolex expert tbh. I've always been an Omega guy and I have a Panerai my grandfather left me. So I'm happy to learn all I can.

[jvmartin]

Your issue is that this watch has an aftermarket/refinished dial... that dial was not available on the 1601 era and a modern Rolex dial cannot be fitted to a 1601 because of the pie pan shape required, thus it must be aftermarket... this dial is obviously off which is why the 6 o'clock marker is off, also, it is likely the reason the datewheel gets stuck, as this tends to happen with aftermarket dials... the fit is almost always off and in this case, so is the numbering...

[southtexas]

Those aftermarket dial makers...what will they not think of next?


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[Andad]

The Romans and the crown look like they are made from plastic?

Was it sold as having an aftermarket dial?

[crowncollection]

As above the dial is aftermarket, too new a style for a 1601, hence your date issue


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[Richard Carver]

Certainly aftermarket but the numbering is correct, VI is 6.

[J. W. Hall]

Originally Posted by Richard Carver

Certainly aftermarket but the numbering is correct, VI is 6.

I think the OP means that the 1:00 hour marker, (Roman numeral “I”) is placed not at the 5 minute mark but rather the 6 minute mark. If so, that seems to lend credence to the aftermarket dial theory. I believe the OP asks whether Rolex could have made this mistake on an authentic dial, to which the answer is clearly and definitively:
No.


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[jatco]

Originally Posted by J. W. Hall

I think the OP means that the 1:00 hour marker, (Roman numeral “I”) is placed not at the 5 minute mark but rather the 6 minute mark. If so, that seems to lend credence to the aftermarket dial theory. I believe the OP asks whether Rolex could have made this mistake on an authentic dial, to which the answer is clearly and definitively:
No.


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x2

[MonBK]

Originally Posted by Richard Carver

Certainly aftermarket but the numbering is correct, VI is 6.

Correct and L is 50.

[decker6869]

Wow thanks for the education gentleman! This watch was definitely not sold as having an aftermarket dial and I will be contacting Overstock about it post haste. Thank you guys so much for the info!

Needless to say this is very disappointing. Thank you all so much again!

[decker6869]

Oh and I've had the watch back 8 days from the calendar wheel issue being fixed and as of this morning it is again "stuck." Obviously as you gentleman have pointed out, the pie pan aftermarket is most likely the culprit. Nothing like getting a fast and hard education into Rolex than diving right on in! LoL

[J. W. Hall]

Best of luck getting it sorted out. Cheers!


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[theotse]

Best of luck! hope it gets fixed soon. My 6694 has a rotated dial and its bugging me too!

[Any4xx]

Please do update when you hear back from the vendor.

[swish77]

Well, the good news is that you could source a correct 1601 dial for your DJ. They're relatively easy to get and not too expensive. Although, perhaps returning the watch is a better option.