Manufacturer: Rolex Year: Circa 1963 Reference No: 1806 Movement No: DD94814 Case No: 853'724 Model Name: Day-Date Material: 18K yellow gold Calibre: Automatic, cal. 1555, 25 jewels Bracelet/Strap: 18K yellow gold Rolex brick-link bracelet, max length 180mm Clasp/Buckle: 18K yellow gold Rolex deployant clasp stamped 1.63 Dimensions: 36mm Diameter Signed: Case, dial, movement and bracelet signed Accessories: Accompanied by Rolex presentation box.
Catalogue Essay
Introduced to the market in 1956, the Day-Date has seen a multitude of watch design variations. It is one of the most varied, unusual and creative models the firm has ever produced, delighting with its myriad of dial, bracelet, bezel and gold-finished designs. The firm has elevated its Day-Date models with materials such as rubellite, blood stone, coral, and even fossil, providing an unusual design twist to the iconic model.
The present model, reference 1806, is distinguished by its textured linen pattern to the bezel and lugs, playfully dubbed the 'Morellis' finish. The case is extremely sharp and still retains its delicate linen-textured pattern, which is remarkable to see for a watch of its age. To complete the look, the watch is fitted with a patterned brick-link Rolex yellow gold bracelet to match the case design, which was entirely made by hand.
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.
