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

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  • Manufacturer: Rolex
    Year: 1973
    Reference No: 1803
    Case No: 3'401'401
    Model Name: Day-Date
    Material: 18k yellow gold and diamonds
    Calibre: Automatic, 1556
    Bracelet/Strap: Custom made and heavy Rolex woven bracelet, reference 8623
    Clasp/Buckle: Folding deployant clasp, stamped 72
    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

    In the early Seventies, Day-Dates were fitted with brightly coloured enamel-lacquered dials and broadly referred to as “Stella”. The combination of the yellow gold version and orange toned dial results in an impressive 1973-dated Day-Date. The reference 8623 bracelet is entirely handmade and features a highly distinctive decoration. To put it briefly, a timepiece with a great captivating shine.


    This rare and brilliant lacquered Stella dial displays a red orange colour shade and is preciously enriched with 8 round cut and 2 baguette-cut diamonds positioned at 6 and 9 o’clock.


    The timepiece is powered by a 1556 calibre movement and features a 19'800 beat per hour frequency. Introduced in the mid Sixties as the latest improvement to the 1555 calibre, after 1972 Day-Dates featured a hacking mechanism that allows precise time-setting of the timepiece.

  • 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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Pepita Red

30

Ref. 1803
A very rare, heavy and unusual yellow gold and diamond-set calendar wristwatch with centre seconds, custom made bracelet and pepita red lacquered “Stella” dial

1973
36mm Diameter
Movement, dial, case and bracelet signed

Estimate
CHF20,000 - 40,000 

Sold for CHF43,750

Contact Specialist
Livia Russo
+41 22 317 81 86

Glamorous Day-Date

Geneva Auction 9 May 2015 7pm