Rolex - The Hong Kong Watch Auction: XIII Hong Kong Thursday, November 25, 2021 | Phillips

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  • Manufacturer: Rolex
    Year: Circa 1976
    Reference No: 1803
    Movement No: DD974’564
    Case No: 4’211’888, inside caseback stamped 1803
    Model Name: Day-Date
    Material: 18K yellow gold
    Calibre: Automatic, cal. 1556, 26 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: 18K yellow gold Rolex President bracelet, max length 165mm
    Clasp/Buckle: 18K yellow gold Rolex concealed folding clasp
    Dimensions: 36mm diameter
    Signed: Case, dial, movement, bracelet and clasp signed

  • Catalogue Essay

    The Rolex Day-Date Stella has long been a collector’s favorite since its debut in the 1970s. Admired by many due to its fruitful offering of various vibrant colors that consists of almost every spectrum in the color wheel, these special lacquered dials further enhances its appeal setting itself apart from others alike with its vivacious glossy luster. Today, Day-Dates featuring these rare and exciting dials are among some of the most sought-after and collectible examples in the vintage scene.

    Launched during the 1970s via the already coveted ref. 1803, these colorful dials were manufactured by a company called Stella based in Châtelaine and Geneva, the firm supplied Rolex’s dial makers at the period with special types of lacquer that resulted in the name it proudly deserves. In production for about a decade, Stella dials has been known to be offered in various hues of the colors it incorporated due to the fact that over the course of its production of these dials, the colors were hand mixed and hence varied in consistency, making them today one of the most interesting dials to collect as some differ from one another.

    The present example Rolex Day-Date ref. 1803 with an attractive pinkish red “Stella” dial from circa 1976 in yellow gold is an exciting example. Boasting an exhilarating contrast between the yellow gold case against the vigorous glossy red dial, it is perhaps the perfect weekend watch for the lively collector of tasteful vintage timepieces. Offered in attractive overall condition with a clean and flawless dial, the present example will surely impress the community of dedicated collectors of vintage Rolex timepieces.

  • 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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898

Ref. 1803
A very fine and rare yellow gold wristwatch with center seconds, day, date, red “Stella” dial and bracelet

Circa 1976
36mm diameter
Case, dial, movement, bracelet and clasp signed

Estimate
HK$150,000 - 250,000 
€16,600-27,700
$19,200-32,100

Sold for HK$441,000

Contact Specialist

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

The Hong Kong Watch Auction: XIII

Hong Kong Auctions 25-26 November 2021