Rolex 31mm Datejust Stainless Steel Watch, 1976

SPECIFICATION

Synonymous with class, the Datejust has inspired associations of elegance and sophistication with its wearers for several decades, its timeless prestige transcending its several iterations. Harking back to the infamous Quartz Crisis of the '70s era, this model epitomises that standfast hallmark of quality through trial with a robustified configuration complete with the more understated smooth bezel and Oyster-style bracelet. Underneath the plexiglass crystal, a hallmark of the '70's, this dial aesthetic in particular is something unseen commonly in modern design language in the horology world. The combination of the baton hour indices peripheralising the Roman numeral index markers is a gorgeously clean combination, adding that spoke-like detail to an already minimal sword-style hand-set for an execution that is superbly crisp. Beyond the inherited design aesthetic of this generation of great Rolex timepieces, a Rolex from the 1970s is sure to provide us an example of the utilisation of Tritium instead of Superluminova. Being a radioactive material, the innate luminescence requires no charge from the sun in its younger years, and has now developed a beautiful patina after several atomic half-lives. Hence, 'T SWISS T' bounded to the southern periphery of the dial. Measuring at 31mm case diameter, the 16mm lug width is synergetically appropriate, perfect for ladies and men of slighter wrists. Overall the piece, despite its diminiutive visual stature, maintains a respectable heft for a piece of this size, with the added comfort of the sporty Oystersteel bracelet. The piece has been adequately cared for, maintaining a very good condition. Apart from slight scuffs in the expected areas of the bracelet links through normal wear, and minor surface scuffs - the piece lacks any major deformity to write about and is, all things considered, an excellent specimen.