Rolex - Geneva Watch Auction: TWO Geneva Saturday, November 7, 2015 | Phillips

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  • Manufacturer: Rolex
    Year: 1973
    Reference No: 1803
    Movement No: DD618'060
    Case No: 3'852'659
    Model Name: Day-Date "Desert Rose"
    Material: 18k pink gold
    Calibre: Automatic, cal. 1555, 26 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: 18k pink gold Rolex President, max length 185mm
    Clasp/Buckle: Folding deployant clasp
    Dimensions: 36mm. Diameter
    Signed: Case, dial, movement and bracelet signed
    Literature: The present watch is described and illustrated in Day Date: The Presidential Rolex by Pucci Papaleo Editore, pp. 196-197

  • Catalogue Essay

    The Rolex Day-Date was manufactured for multiple markets, with the present one originally made for the Middle Eastern market in 1973. During the early years of the line's history, Rolex tailored the design of Day-Date's dial for certain markets.

    The present reference 1803 in pink gold is fitted with a silvered dial and matched with applied pink gold Arabic script numerals, and pink gold hands. Both apertures for the day and date are also in Arabic, with their condition remaining excellent overall.

    This uncommonly seen Arabic Day-Date is highly coveted by all vintage Rolex collectors, and remains an important example in the model’s history.

  • 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 and important pink gold Arabic calendar wristwatch with applied pink gold Arabic numerals and bracelet

1973
36mm. Diameter
Case, dial, movement and bracelet signed

Estimate
CHF30,000 - 60,000 

Sold for CHF149,000

Contact Specialist
Nathalie Monbaron
+41 22 317 81 83

Geneva Watch Auction: TWO

Geneva Auction 7 & 8 November 2015 6:30pm