Rolex - Glamorous Day-Date Geneva Friday, May 8, 2015 | Phillips

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  • Manufacturer: Rolex
    Year: 1969
    Reference No: 1803
    Case No: 1'743'883
    Model Name: Day-Date
    Material: 18k white gold and diamonds
    Calibre: Automatic, 1556
    Bracelet/Strap: Rolex President, end links stamped 53
    Clasp/Buckle: Folding deployant clasp, stamped 2.68
    Dimensions: 36mm Diameter
    Signed:
    Movement, dial, case and bracelet signed

    Literature: The present lot is illustrated in Day Date, The Presidential Rolex by Pucci Papaleo, Spin Edizioni

  • Catalogue Essay

    The present ‘left-side’ Day-Date is actually unknown to the market. Up until today, this white gold 1803 reference, probably made upon special order by Rolex during the second half of the Sixties, has never appeared in literature.

    The ‘left-side’ setting is distinguished by the placement of the winding crown on the left, the reference number at 12 o’clock and the serial number at 6 o’clock.

    The ‘chocolate’ enamel dial shows silver metallic pigment graphics and is enriched with round cut diamond hour markers and baguette-cut diamonds at 6 and 9 o’clock.

    Historically interesting and possibly unique, the present Day-Date is offered in wonderful original condition.

  • Artist Biography

    Rolex

    Swiss • 1905

    Founded in 1905 England by Hans Wilsdorf and Alfred Davis as Wilsdorf & Davis, it soon became known as the Rolex Watch Company in 1915, moving its headquarters to Geneva in 1919. Like no other company, the success of the wristwatch can be attributed to many of Rolex's innovations that made them one of the most respected and well-known of all luxury brands. These innovations include their famous "Oyster" case — the world's first water resistant and dustproof watch case, invented in 1926 — and their "Perpetual" — the first reliable self-winding movement for wristwatches launched in 1933. They would form the foundation for Rolex's Datejust and Day-Date, respectively introduced in 1945 and 1956, but also importantly for their sports watches, such as the Explorer, Submariner and GMT-Master launched in the mid-1950s.

    One of its most famous models is the Cosmograph Daytona. Launched in 1963, these chronographs are without any doubt amongst the most iconic and coveted of all collectible wristwatches. Other key collectible models include their most complicated vintage watches, including references 8171 and 6062 with triple calendar and moon phase, "Jean Claude Killy" triple date chronograph models and the Submariner, including early "big-crown" models and military-issued variants.

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Ref. 1803
An extremely rare, important and possibly unique white gold and diamond-set calendar wristwatch with bracelet, centre seconds, chocolate colour lacquered “Stella” dial and very unusual left handed crown

1969
18k white gold and diamonds
36mm Diameter

Movement, dial, case and bracelet signed

Estimate
CHF50,000 - 100,000 

Sold for CHF123,750

Contact Specialist
Livia Russo
+41 22 317 81 86

Glamorous Day-Date

Geneva Auction 9 May 2015 7pm