Rolex Oyster Perpetual Date 14K Black Dial - 1970

The Oyster Date Reference 1501 is the perfect example of why Rolex watches are so popular. Straddling the line between dressy and casual, it seemingly does it all, and in yellow gold with a black dial, well, it does it all with panache. While other executions of this classic watch may be more accommodating of casual Fridays at the office, this Ref. 1501 is all dress watch and makes one hell of a statement on the wrist.     The Oyster date is similar in most ways to the Datejust, featuring a lovely engine-turned bezel in the place of the fluted Datejust bezel and coming in a slightly smaller case (35mm). As with all Oyster Perpetuals, Rolex designed the watch to be waterproof and robust, helping to explain why this example has survived so well, and why it’s primed for decades more of wear. OysterDates and Datejusts come in many permutations of case materials, dial colors and bezel designs, but to our eyes the combination of the yellow gold case and black dial is particularly striking. It’s certainly an eye-catcher and has more “excitement” than a silver dial in a stainless case. We’re huge fans of the Datejust and often wax poetic about how every collection should have at least one.  In our eyes, Oyster Dates are worthy of the same praise, especially when they look this good.