An Oyster case in 34mm, waterproof, well built and timeless design, I mean it is a Rolex 1501. A lot of men are concerned about wearing a 34mm watch but to be honest the 34mm Oyster case wears larger, especially with the engine turned bezel which I find also helps make the case look more impressive. I’ve owned 36mm watches that wear smaller than this Rolex 1501 and I’ve never felt insecure about this watch on my 7 inch wrist. Overall, it’s a very comfortable wear.

One of the reason’s I purchased this watch was for the Shantung dial (often referred to as Mosaic). This dial was produced for the Japanese market and involves silk threads woven across the dial. Would it be too much to call this Rolex’s Mona Lisa? Much like the Mona Lisa this dial drastically changes depending on the angle and light. I find myself staring at this blue beauty more than just to check the time when it’s on my wrist, it probably constitutes distracted driving.

The robust Rolex 1570 is far from their most advanced movement, but with hacking seconds and the fact it can be found inside the legendary Explorer 1016 it’s good enough for me. The downside is that it doesn’t have a quickset date, so it can be a pain to set if you haven’t worn it in a while (TIP: Just wear it more).

Although the modern Rolex movements eclipse their 1970s counterparts the dial and bezel on this offer so much more than the dials Rolex produces today.

These little gems can be tough to find but for me, the hunt is always part of the fun so if you’re like me and love this piece and want to add one to the collection be sure to enjoy the chase but make sure you avoid ones in poor shape or filled with aftermarket parts.