Rolex Day-Date Ref. 1803 - Non-Luminous Champagne 'Sigma' Dial Unpolished
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 a matching solid gold bracelet (called a 'President' bracelet), but also on a leather strap like the example that we have here.
The Reference 1803 that we have here dates to circa 1971 and comes to us in absolutely outstanding overall condition. The case and characteristic 'fluted' yellow gold bezel remain unpolished and shows uniform wear throughout. The dial within — 'champagne' in color —features a sunburst finishing and is not only a non-luminous unit, but also features contrasting black 'onyx' inserts within the applied indices and the matching handset. A very uncommon variant that we don't often see. Furthermore, it also features two small 'Sigmas' flanking the "T Swiss T" signature at the 6 o'clock position, denoting the presence of gold on the dial.
Particularly when worn on a leather strap, a classic yellow gold Day-Date lends itself to a very special and elegant wearing experience while still flying under the radar.
Condition Report & Details
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Every Oliver & Clarke timepiece comes with a one-year mechanical warranty starting from the date of delivery. We ensure all watches are in wonderful working condition and are ready for daily wear. Many have been fully serviced by our team of watchmakers.
Please note:
- Due to the vintage or antique nature of many of our watches, they may not keep time as accurately as when new, nor as precisely as quartz or electronic devices.
- We do not guarantee water resistance and do not warranty against moisture or water damage. Deliberate exposure to water or steam is not recommended.
- Warranty does not cover internal or external damage caused by accidents, mishandling, abuse, modifications, or services performed by anyone other than our authorized personnel.
- Our warranty is non-transferable.
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Our Guarantee:
- Each timepiece is thoroughly evaluated, authenticated, and approved by our expert team before it is offered for sale.
- We guarantee the period-correctness of all components unless otherwise stated.
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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.
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