Manufacturer: Rolex Year: Circa 1967 Reference No: 1803 Movement No: DD185'444 Case No: 1'622'557 Model Name: Day-Date Material: 18k white gold Calibre: Automatic, cal. 1556, 26 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Brown leather strap Clasp/Buckle: 18k white gold Rolex buckle Dimensions: 36mm diameter Signed:Case, dial and movement signed
Catalogue Essay
Rolex’s Day-Date is one of the most recognizable wristwatches today, and over the course of its 60 year history has been realized in all metal types and with different dial styles. An icon of horology, the present example is in overall beautiful and original condition with well-defined gold hallmarks, crisp milling to the case back, and a delightful appeal.
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.