Rolex Datejust 1605
Datejust → 1605
Rolex's Cal. 1565 and Cal. 1575 parts catalogues list date components for case ref. 1605. Dealer listings describe one rose-gold watch and two steel watches, with seller dates of 1960 and circa 1966. They describe triangular-cut “Piranha” and engine-turned bezels.
Core facts
| Detail | Record |
|---|---|
| Reference | Listed in Cal. 1565 and Cal. 1575 date-component tables, alongside refs. 1600–1603. |
| Production dates | Listings date examples to 1960 and circa 1966. The rose-gold seller reports a serial beginning 52; its photos do not show the serial. These are dates for individual watches, not production endpoints. |
| Movement | The parts catalogues list date components. The Field Manual and 1stDibs list Cal. 1570; the rose-gold seller lists Cal. 1560. |
| Documented examples | Sellers describe a 36 mm, 18K rose-gold watch and steel examples measured at 35 mm and 36 mm. Both steel listings identify their watches as ref. 1605; neither photograph shows a readable case-reference engraving. |
| Bezel | Published labels include triangular-cut “Piranha,” “pyramid diamond,” and engine-turned. |
Movement notes
Rolex's Cal. 1565 catalogue lists calendar ring 8022 for case ref. 1605. Its Cal. 1575 catalogue lists date-indicator seating 7963 for the same case.
The Vintage Rolex Field Manual and the 1stDibs seller list Cal. 1570; the rose-gold seller lists Cal. 1560. The Cal. 1575 catalogue uses “1570” as the automatic-device bridge engraving on a GMT version. The dealer listings give no movement view to check those caliber claims.
Dial map
The rose-gold example has a pie-pan dial with spotted patina. The 1stDibs seller describes a textured silvered dial on its steel watch; Bachmann & Scher lists a silver dial on its steel watch.
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Pie-pan dial on the rose-gold watch listed as ref. 1605. -
Steel Datejust listed as ref. 1605, circa 1966; the seller describes an engine-turned bezel and textured silver dial.
Case, bezel, crystal, and crown notes
The rose-gold listing gives a 36 mm case and Plexiglas crystal; its seller calls the triangular-cut bezel “Piranha.” The Vintage Rolex Field Manual lists an engine-turned bezel, as does the 1stDibs seller for its steel watch. Bachmann & Scher gives no bezel label; its photos show a patterned steel surface. A 2013 Rolex Forums reply quotes T. Charles Jarman's The Rolex Reference Guide for the term “pyramid diamond.”
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Triangular-cut bezel on the rose-gold watch listed as ref. 1605. -
Exterior caseback; interior markings are not visible.
Bracelets
The rose-gold seller describes the President bracelet as original. The listing does not date the bracelet or connect it to the watch's original delivery. Bachmann & Scher shows its watch on a leather strap; 1stDibs describes the Jubilee-style band on its steel watch as a newer Rolex bracelet.
Piranha bezel reports
The rose-gold seller described its example as one of two known 1605s; Relojes Vintage Mexico repeats the count. Vintage Watch·es groups refs. 1602 and 1605 under the triangular “Piranha” label and describes them as gold variants.
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Rose-gold watch listed as ref. 1605 -
Dial and bezel
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Bezel and dial surface
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Exterior caseback
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President bracelet and clasp -
Steel Datejust listed as ref. 1605, circa 1966
Sources
- Cal. 1565 parts catalogue scan
- Cal. 1575 parts catalogue
- The Vintage Rolex Field Manual, Datejust reference table
- Rolex Forums, “Datejust references,” 2013
- Rose-gold Datejust sold listing
- Steel Datejust sold listing
- Steel Datejust listing, circa 1966
- Relojes Vintage Mexico, Datejust collector guide
- Vintage Watch·es, Datejust 36 reference guide