Our remarks

Rolex Day-Date Ref. 1803, 18k Yellow Gold, Tritium Ghost Step Dial, President Bracelet, 1971

When Rolex introduced the Day-Date in 1956, it was the first wristwatch to show both the date and the day of the week spelled out in full. It was only made in gold or platinum and quickly became known as the “President”, the watch of statesmen, business leaders and people who had arrived. The reference 1803 is the classic vintage Day-Date, produced for almost twenty years, and it still has everything that makes the model so special: the domed acrylic crystal, the warm gold and the charm of a true vintage watch.

The 36 mm Oyster case is made of 18 karat yellow gold and closed with a screw-down crown. The fluted gold bezel catches the light beautifully and gives the watch its unmistakable presence. The domed acrylic crystal lends the watch a soft, warm look you only find on vintage pieces.

The original vintage dial is what makes this Day-Date truly special. Over the decades it has aged into a soft grey-beige sand tone, a look collectors call a “ghost dial”. No two of these dials have aged in exactly the same way, so each one is unique. The white printing stands out gently against the sand-colored background, and together with the all-original tritium hour markers and hands, it creates a calm, harmonious look that is very attractive and chic. At 12 o’clock the day of the week appears in full in an arched window, and the Cyclops lens magnifies the date at 3 o’clock.

Inside works a self-winding Rolex chronometer movement cal.1570 with day and date function. The watch just went through full service inside our watch-lab.

The watch sits on its 18 karat yellow gold President bracelet with the semi-circular three-piece links that were created especially for the Day-Date. It closes with a hidden clasp, which disappears completely into the bracelet, so the gold flows uninterrupted around the wrist.

The watch dates from 1971 and is in excellent condition. It is sold with a Rolex box, though without papers. Serieal number is 2983xxx.

"A rare and highly attractive vintage Day-Date from the early 1970s, that really stands out by its beauty!"