Rolex Day-Date Ref. 1803 - Sunburst Silver 'Swiss Only' 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 Lyndon B. Johnson 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 piece that we have here, a Reference 1803, dates to circa 1963, is a strong example finished in solid yellow gold with a silver 'Swiss Only' dial inside. The Oyster case remains thick and symmetrical and shows normal signs of wear throughout with a light 'rosy' tarnishing developing around the bezel and underside of the lugs. The characteristic 'fluted' yellow gold bezel also retains nice finishing with matching wear. The sunburst silver dial within retains a clear sunburst surface, with a light 'rosy' tarnishing visible on the 'door stop' indices, nicely patinated Tritium plots, and a matching 'obelisk' handset.
It also happens to come fitted with a Rolex-signed brown leather strap with a signed yellow gold-tone buckle.
Especially when fitted to a leather strap, this 'elevated' piece remains very much under-the-radar and is suitable for virtually any occasion, on virtually any wrist.
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