Manufacturer: Rolex Year: Circa 1974 Reference No: 1803 Movement No: DD'060'216 Case No: 3'862'075 Model Name: Day-Date Material: 18K yellow gold Calibre: Automatic, cal. 1556, 26 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Alligator Clasp/Buckle: Metal buckle Dimensions: 36.5mm Diameter Signed: Case, dial and movement signed
Catalogue Essay
Cased in yellow gold, pink gold, white gold or platinum, the Day-Date is one of Rolex's most diverse models. Since 1956, Rolex has produced a multitude of designs for the iconic model. While some are fitted delicate hard stone dials, others are heavily embellished with diamonds.
This Day-Date is fitted with an exceedingly sought-after sequoia closed-grain wooden dial. Characterized by the lack of varnishing on the dial, it is an incredibly rare variant. It most notably has a "Sigma" dial at 6 o'clock, indicating that the hour markers are in gold. The "Sigma" designation is furthermore correct for the serial number of this watch.
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.