Actor Richard Gere spotted wearing a Rolex

In the 1990 Garry Marshall film Pretty Woman, wardrobe choices were doing serious narrative work. Richard Gere's character Edward Lewis — a cold, calculating Manhattan businessman slowly thawed by Julia Roberts — needed a watch that read 'inherited wealth' rather than 'new money flash.' The production landed on a vintage two-tone Rolex Datejust reference 1601, and the choice was pitch-perfect.

The Rolex Datejust ref. 1601 was introduced in the late 1950s and remained in production until approximately 1977, making it a genuine vintage piece by the time cameras rolled on Pretty Woman. At 36mm in diameter, the case pairs stainless steel with yellow gold accents — the classic two-tone 'Rolesor' configuration — finished with a fluted bezel and fitted to an Oyster bracelet. Under the dial, the Rolex Calibre 1570 does the heavy lifting: a 26-jewel, 19,800 vph automatic movement with a Glucydur balance wheel, regarded by serious collectors as one of the finest movements of its era for accuracy and long-term durability.

The ref. 1601 occupies a respected position in the Rolex collector hierarchy. It predates the ref. 16013 and ref. 16233 that followed, and its lack of a quickset date function is, paradoxically, part of its charm — it demands a certain engagement from the wearer. Two-tone examples in good condition with original tropical or gilt dials command consistent premiums in the vintage market, prized for originality over specification.

For the costume department, the 1601 telegraphed exactly what was needed: a man who has worn quality so long he no longer notices it. Edward Lewis doesn't check his Rolex to show it off — he checks it because his time is worth money. That casual authority is embedded in the ref. 1601's design language.

On the current grey market, a clean two-tone Rolex Datejust ref. 1601 trades in the region of $5,700, a figure that reflects steady collector demand without the speculative frenzy surrounding sportier vintage references. It remains one of the most accessible entry points into serious vintage Rolex collecting — and now carries a minor piece of Hollywood history.