THE ESSENTIALS

MAKE: ROLEX
MODEL: 1500/7
YEAR: 1973
CASE DIAMETER: 34mm
CASE MATERIAL: 14K YELLOW GOLD
BRACELET MATERIAL: 14K YELLOW GOLD
MOVEMENT: AUTOMATIC

During the 1960s and 1970s, Rolex was not afraid to experiment with dial designs, introducing a wide array of unique dials across the Oyster Perpetual, Datejust, and Day-Date lines. One of our favourites, and now relatively elusive, is the “Shantung” dial. These dials were produced primarily for the Asian market, appearing around 1968 and disappearing by the late 1970s. Shantung fabric is a fine textured silk, with an irregular horizontal texture that catches the light in a truly captivating way. These dial have the silk woven horizontally.

Shantung dials were produced in a variety of colours, from deep blues to olive greens, each ageing differently depending on how the watch was worn. The silver-grey example here is easily the cleanest we have ever had. The dial is flawless - all of the tritium lume plots remain intact and have aged beautifully, while the hands retain their original tritium and are free from oxidation.