c. 1959–c. 198120 variants
The long-running fluted-bezel Datejust of the 1960s–70s. Mostly steel with a white-gold bezel, also two-tone and solid yellow, white or rose gold. Early dials have the sloping pie-pan profile and luminous plots; the range of dials is the widest of the 16xx family, up to hardstone and diamond dials in gold. No .
Case suffixes (per Wristler): /4 steel with white-gold bezel, /3 steel and yellow gold, /8 yellow gold, /9 white gold, /5 rose gold.
Faded ends mark approximate or unknown dates. Years are as stated by the cited sources.
Specs shared by all variants. Variant pages show where a variant differs.
Early glossy black lacquer dial with gilt printing, from before Rolex switched to tritium. Fragile and prone to cracking, so soon replaced. Examples: yellow gold c. 1963 with spade numerals and sword hands (Phillips, case 937,768); two-tone c. 1966 (Antiquorum); steel c. 1968 (Sotheby’s).