Levi's 501XX 1960s Jeans, K Button Stamp, Hidden Rivets, Patchwork Repairs, Light Indigo, Approx. W30
Levi's 501XX 1960s Jeans, K Button Stamp, Hidden Rivets, Patchwork Repairs, Light Indigo, Approx. W30
- Dispatch
- Prepared and sent from Tokyo within 7–14 days, often sooner, or as arranged
- Arrival
- United States · usually 4–7 days after dispatch, insured and tracked
- Import
Duties and customs · View the estimate
A guide for this piece: about $109, based on the 10% US charge on the declared value of goods made in Japan.
The final figure is set by US Customs and depends on where the piece was made and the kind of object it is. Many antiques over a century old carry no ordinary duty; most jewellery and leather goods add a single-digit rate.
With EMS, any charge is collected by your postal service on delivery. For pieces of significant value we can often arrange duties prepaid before dispatch.
How the estimate is reached · Ask for a figure on this piece
- Sizing
- Measured flat by hand, waist, rise and inseam, in centimetres · Find your size · Ask before you buy
- Replies
- Within one Tokyo business day · Ask the curator team
- Guarantee
- Authenticity guaranteed · How we grade
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A 1960s Levi's 501XX with the K stamp behind its waistband button, hidden rivets and a patchwork of old repairs that read like a working history.
The Piece
The single-letter factory stamps of the 1960s are one of the details collectors use to place a 501XX, and K is among those found on hidden-rivet pairs from the period. Paired with the red capital E tab and selvedge cuffs, it marks this as a genuine pre-1966 construction rather than a later 501.
The denim has washed down to a light, airy blue. Over the years the previous owner patched it carefully: square and diamond-shaped panels of darker denim sit at the knees and thighs, set against frayed areas left open, and a darker denim patch has been sewn where the paper patch once was. The red tab remains on the back pocket, the buttons and rivets are present, and the inside shows the selvedge red line at the cuffs.
There is real visual appeal here for anyone who likes repaired denim, the darker inset patches giving a quiet contrast against the faded body. It wears with the straight, slightly tapered line of the 1960s 501XX.
Measures about a 30 inch waist with a 72 cm inseam.
Details
- Designer: Levi Strauss & Co.
- Season: 1960s
- Model / ref: 501XX, K button stamp, hidden rivets
- Material: Cotton selvedge denim
- Colour: Light faded indigo with darker denim patches
- Made in: USA
- Tagged size: No size label, approx. W30
- Measurements: Waist 77 cm (38.5 cm flat) · Hip 50 cm flat · Rise 27.5 cm · Inseam 72 cm
- Included: Jeans only
Condition
- Vintage with genuine wear and many repairs, priced accordingly.
- Original paper patch missing; a denim patch has been sewn in its place.
- Several sewn denim patches at the knees and thighs.
- Open frayed areas on the front legs and back pocket.
- Marks and soiling throughout, fraying at the hems.
Condition grade C on the Japanese scale; see Japanese condition ranks, explained.
Authenticity & Care
The labels, materials, stitching, hardware and construction are examined together and documented in Japan before dispatch; anything that cannot be confirmed is stated plainly in the description. Every piece carries the Japonista authenticity guarantee. Hand wash in cold water and line dry; handle the patched areas gently.
Delivery from Japan
Packed by hand in Japan and shipped insured and tracked by EMS or an equivalent express service. Import duties and taxes, where applicable, are payable on arrival. Every sale is final; please ask anything before you buy, and see our published policy.
Every figure above is taken by hand with the pair laid flat, in centimetres. Measure jeans or trousers that already fit you the same way and allow a centimetre or two of margin, the quiet safeguard on a final sale. Our jeans and trousers size guide reads waist and inseam in inches and centimetres, and for anything it leaves open the curator team replies within one Tokyo business day.
Considered offers are welcome through Send an Offer, and each one is reviewed personally. Pieces over $1,000 may be reserved over several payments with Layaway Privilege™.
Continue browsing: Japan Luxury Archive · Levi’s
Repaired Denim, Curated
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Collectors also search: Levi's 501XX 1960s · Levi's K stamp 501XX · vintage Levi's repaired jeans · Levi's hidden rivets · patched vintage Levi's · 501XX W30 · vintage Levi's Big E 501XX · 60s Levi's selvedge
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