Rolex Day-Date Ref. 1811 'Morellis' - Non-Luminous Champagne 'Linen' 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 a matching solid gold bracelet (called a 'President' bracelet), but also on a leather strap like the example that we have here.
The example that we have here is a rare Reference 1811 dating to circa 1972. There are what are known as 'Morellis' Day-Dates because of their beautifully hand-finished bezels that are unique to this reference. The case of this piece remains in excellent overall condition, having seen a light previous polishing, while remaining symmetrical and showing normal signs of wear throughout for its age. Inside, the non-luminous 'linen' dial is in immaculate — seemingly-flawless condition — with a clean surface and applied indices with 'onyx' inserts. It is complimented by the correct handset as well.
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 despite its yellow gold construction. If you know, you know.
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.
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- Internal or external damage caused by accidents, mishandling, abuse, modifications, or services performed by anyone other than our authorized personnel.
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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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