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

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  • Manufacturer: Rolex
    Year: 1977
    Reference No: 1831
    Case No: 5'086'932
    Model Name: Day-Date
    Material: Platinum and diamonds
    Calibre: Automatic, 1566
    Bracelet/Strap: Rolex, King Midas stye
    Clasp/Buckle: Concealed double deployment clasp
    Dimensions: 37mm. Diameter
    Signed: Movement, dial, case and bracelet signed, Case back further numbered No. 5
    Literature: The present lot is illustrated in Day Date, The Presidential Rolex by Pucci Papaleo, Spin Edizioni

  • Catalogue Essay

    Reference 1831 is truly a superlative watch and takes a unique position, not only within the Day Date family but even within Rolex’s entire history. In fact, hardly any models in the crowned firms history are so different and made in such small quantities like the present one, particularly as late as the 1970’s. Nearly every component of this watch differs from any other reference and demonstrates impressively that its development and production was never subject to cost efficiency but rather, to produce a model of “Imperial” dimensions. In fact, scholars today believe that only eight examples of the reference 1831 were ever produced, all cased in platinum. This highly limited production was apparently reserved for the household of the Shah of Persia, whose taste and connoisseurship for the finest and most precious products was well known. Reference 1831 in platinum weighs nearly 300 grams and sets itself apart with a number of features; The case, similar to the OysterQuartz and a bracelet design never used again on any other Day-Date. Composed of massive satin finished platinum links, it is similar to the bracelet used for the King Midas, designed by the celebrated Gerald Genta, creator of many of the world's most famous watch designs. The dial, seemingly a regular burgundy coloured “Stella” version, is completly different in size and design. The oversized diamond markers are positioned on the half minutes track (as opposed to inside, nearer to the centre). In every collecting field there is a holy grail, in the world of Day-Date reference 1831 is definitely one of the strongest and most prominent candidates for this title.

  • 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. 1831
An extremely rare, important and very heavy platinum and diamond-set calendar bracelet watch with centre seconds and burgundy lacquered “Stella” dial, made in a limited series of 8 pieces only

1977
37mm. Diameter
Movement, dial, case and bracelet signed, Case back further numbered No. 5

Estimate
CHF120,000 - 240,000 

Sold for CHF305,000

Contact Specialist
Livia Russo
+41 22 317 81 86

Glamorous Day-Date

Geneva Auction 9 May 2015 7pm