Day-Date Prototype Steel

Rolex Day-Date Prototype Steel Ref. 1601 . The stainless steel Rolex Day-Date prototype is one of the rarest and most historically important Rolex Day-Date watches to ever surface on the collector market. While the Day-Date has always been produced exclusively in precious metals, a handful of stainless steel prototypes were manufactured internally by Rolex and never intended for commercial sale. While one could initially assume Rolex used a standard Datejust reference 1601 case, the larger Day-Date caliber does not fit inside a Datejust case. As a result, Rolex produced a dedicated steel case that is subtly thicker while retaining the classic Day-Date proportions. While engraved caliber 1555, it already incorporates the increased beat rate later found on the caliber 1556.

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Rolex is the leading brand in Swiss luxury watches with iconic models such as the Datejust, Submariner, GMT-Master 2, Daytona, Day-Date, Oyster Perpetual, Sea-Dweller. Rolex enjoys an unrivalled reputation for excellence, performance and prestige. Pioneer of the wristwatch since 1905 when it was founded by Hans Wilsdorf in London, the brand is at the origin of landmark innovations in watchmaking, including the first waterproof wristwatch - the Oyster - and the Perpetual rotor self-winding mechanism. Its watches have accompanied explorers and achievers around the world, from the top of the highest mountains to the deepest reaches of the ocean. An independent manufacturing company, Rolex designs, develops and produces in-house all the essential components of its watches. Rolex is privately owned by the Hans Wilsdorf Foundation since 1945 and situated in Geneva. In August 2023 Rolex acquired its largest retailer Bucherer and now owns a direct distribution channel besides it global retail partnerships.