Rolex Day-Date Ref. 1803 - 'Doorstop Underline' Dial

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.