CWR1601-069 was crafted from a Rolex Ref. 1601 Datejust in eighteen karat yellow gold, circa 1963.

The idea for Project GOLD came from the owner of a Zaratsu-finished, Cloister Rolex Ref. 6610, who posed the question of what that early Explorer would have been in gold. To execute this design challenge, we began with an eighteen karat yellow gold Rolex Ref. 1601, fabricated a dial without a date window, and used the period wax-resist technique to create an authentic gilt gloss dial. We took inspiration from the Rolex Explorer Ref. 6610’s text convention & minute track, replacing the luminous painted numerals with bespoke, applied yellow gold arabic numerals at three, six & nine, along with triangular claves sourced from a LeCoultre Futurematic Cal. 497 for the other hour markers.

In parallel, we fully restored the watch’s case, sourced a period-correct Ref. 1600 smooth bezel to replace the fluted bezel original to the watch, and sourced a period-correct 20mm Rolex rivet bracelet, which we restored and converted into an “expansion” bracelet to mirror that fitted to the client’s steel Explorer. After the watch was overhauled and assembled, we completed this project with a Cloister-designed monogram and delivered the watch with a pair of bespoke, waterproof suede straps (not pictured) fitted with Rolex tang buckles.