We appreciate you contacting us. One of our colleagues will get back in touch with you soon!
Have a great day!
When the Day-Date was released in 1956, Rolex had made numerous attempts to capture the market with more complicated timepieces such as the Ref. 6036, the Ref. 8171, and the Ref. 6062, but it seemed like buyers were not particularly fond of complicated Rolexes. All of that changed when President Dwight D. Eisenhower was spotted wearing one Rolex in particular: a Day-Date. The model has since become known worldwide as ‘The President’ and as a symbol of success and prestige. Simply put, this one stuck.
The Day-Date was available for many years on amatching solid gold bracelet (called a 'President' bracelet), but also on a leather strap like the example that we have here.
This Reference 1803 dating to circa 1963 has a few very cool features we love that are only found on earlier examples, and one small but significant detail on the dial that is seldom seen on Day-Dates. 'Champagne' in color, the dial features applied 'doorstop' indices at the 6 & 9 o'clock positions which are complimented by a correct 'obelisk' handset. The Tritium plots on are fully-intact and exhibit a light, even patina throughout, with the handset matching beautifully. The real story here, is the small black 'underline' beneath the chronometer text on the bottom half of the dial. Almost unnoticeable and easy to miss if you are ant looking for it, it is widely agreed that this was one of the ways Rolex denoted that they had transitioned into using Tritium from Radium. Seldom seen on a Day-Date, this is one of those small details that collectors tend to go crazy for.
These small details amount to, we think, a very special and elegant wearing experience — particularly when worn on a leather strap — and remains very much under the radar. If you know, you know.
Condition:
Movement:
Bracelet/Strap:
At Oliver & Clarke, we offer free global shipping on all orders over $150.
Returns (accepted within 3 days of initial delivery of your purchase) must be sent overnight or by priority international delivery, fully insured and paid for by the customer. For payments via Credit Card, a 5% restocking fee will be in place for any returns or cancellations in order to cover our processing fee. Of course, watches must be returned in the same condition as initially shipped.
If you happen to trade a watch with us, which we welcome, trades are final, except of course if the watch is grossly misdescribed or misrepresented.
We back each Oliver & Clarke timepiece with a one-year mechanical warranty starting at the date of first delivery. We service or perform necessary maintenance to the extent necessary to all of our watches, unless otherwise noted. All watches are listed and sold running and functioning as intended.
*Please note that due to the vintage or antique nature of many of our watches, these machines may not run as accurately as they did when new, nor will any mechanical timepiece keep time as accurately as a quartz or electronic device.
We do not guarantee water resistance, thus do not warranty against moisture incursion or water damage.
*We also do not recommend deliberate exposure to water or worse - steam!
Our warranty is voided under the following circumstances:
Our warranty is non-transferable.
Through rigorous vetting of each watch offered, we’re able to guarantee authenticity of our pieces. Ultimately, your satisfaction is our mission, as is helping you get YOUR perfect watch. If you have any questions at all, we will get back to you ASAP.
Each of our timepieces are vetted, evaluated, authenticated, and approved by our experienced team prior to sale. We guarantee the period-correctness of all components unless otherwise disclosed. We guarantee the authenticity of each watch in perpetuity.
Choose options
"As collectors themselves, Oliver and Clarke are on a mission to make buying vintage watches as painless as possible."
"The company focuses on good prices for its pieces, elite customer service and full transparency."
"The appointment-only space is inviting, with comfortable seating areas and exposed brick walls."
From Rolex & Patek Philippe, to Cartier & Audemars Piguet. As collectors first, we love the small details that separate the Submariner from Daytona and Calatrava from Royal Oak. This is why you'll find our curated assortment spans decades of generations of models and brands. We believe that watches don't just tell time, they tell history - and life is too short to wear a boring watch.
Oliver & Clarke