Rolex - The Hong Kong Watch Auction: ONE Hong Kong Monday, November 30, 2015 | Phillips
  • Manufacturer: Rolex
    Year: 1966
    Reference No: 1803
    Movement No: DD67601
    Case No: 1'303'825
    Model Name: Day-Date
    Material: 18k white gold
    Calibre: Automatic, 1555, 26 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: 18k white gold Rolex President bracelet, 175 mm. maximum length, end links stamped 53
    Clasp/Buckle: 18k white gold Rolex concealed folding deployant clasp
    Dimensions: 36 mm. diameter
    Signed: Case, dial and movement signed
    Accessories: With Rolex service receipt dated 27 June 2014.
    Literature: For another example of reference 1803 with Arabic script and cased in white gold however with applied pink gold Arabic numerals, please see Day-Date, The Presidential Rolex by Pucci Papaleo, page 198 and 199.

  • Catalogue Essay

    This gorgeous reference 1803 Day-Date with fluted bezel is fitted with a rare black matte T-Swiss-T dial with white painted Roman numerals and white graphics. The day and date is in the Arabic language further enhancing the look and rarity of this watch.

  • 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
A very fine and very rare white gold Arabic calendar wristwatch with sweep centre seconds and bracelet

1966
36 mm. diameter
Case, dial and movement signed

Estimate
HK$120,000 - 180,000 

Sold for HK$212,500

Contact Specialist

Thomas Perazzi
Head of Watches, Asia
+852 2318 2001
thomasperazzi@phillips.com

Ziyong Ho
Specialist
+852 9386 2032
ziyongho@phillips.com

Jill Chen
Specialist
+852 2318 2033
jillchen@phillips.com

The Hong Kong Watch Auction: ONE

Hong Kong Auction 1 December 2015 11am