ROLEX DAY-DATE

When the Day-Date was first presented at Basel in 1956 it immediately became the “top” watch of the Rolex range, overtaking the Datejust collection, from which it differs in its carrying both date and day displays.
This watch with reference 6511 was produced exclusively in 18kt gold or platinum with the option of a diamond encrusted bezel. The movement is calibre 1055, the case has a solid design and the bezel is fluted (domed for the reference 6510). The Day-Date has a president bracelet, from the name of then president of the United States Dwight D. Eisenhower to whom a Day-Date was given as a present. The president bracelet changed from a foldover clasp to a concealed clasp very similar to the one in production today.
The following year reference 6611 was produced, taking the place of reference 6511 and its variants 6612 (domed bezel) and 6613 (diamond encrusted bezel). The new model was characterised by a balance wheel with Microstella adjustment screws, a mechanical modification thanks to which the watch was awarded the certificate of accuracy Superlative Chronometer Officially Certified, the first for Rolex.
In some cases a different plate was used for the movement (1/10th of a millimetre thicker), recognisable by the letter B added to the reference and calibre.

The new model reference 1803, introduced in 1959 and in the catalogue until 1977, carried a movement calibre 1555, replaced with a calibre 1556 in 1965 and chronostop equipped. The 1803 model was produced in gold (yellow, white, pink) and rarely in platinum, with the possibility of choosing from dials of different vibrant colours and 23 different languages for the name of the day of the week.
This is a very important model for collectors who call it the Day-Date par excellence for the success it enjoyed when it was released, due as well to the vast range of variants available. Including: 1802 with domed bezel, 1803 with fluted bezel, 1804 with brilliant cut diamond encrusted bezel, 1806 with linen-textured case and bezel, 1807 with bark-finish bezel and 1811 with linen-textured bezel.

Starting from 1977 the pattern of the references changed with the introduction of a fifth number that indicates the material of the case. The new list: 18026 in platinum with domed bezel, 18028 in yellow gold with domed bezel, 18038 in yellow gold with fluted bezel, 18039 Tridor (yellow, pink and white golds), 18046 in platinum with brilliant cut diamond encrusted bezel, 18048 in yellow gold with brilliant cut diamond encrusted bezel, 18049 in white gold with brilliant cut diamond encrusted bezel, 18078 in yellow gold with bark-finish bezel, 18079 in white gold with bark-finish bezel.

With the year 1977 came the introduction of sapphire crystal which brought waterproofness to 100 metres, the new calibre 3055 with instantaneous date jump and the aforementioned model Tridor, made of three colours of gold. The pink gold version, unpopular at the time, became available again in 2000.

There was another important change in 1988 with the introduction of the calibre 3155 with double instantaneous jump to the crown; that is, with separate adjustment of date and day.
In this period, the coral Gulda dial was also available as a tribute to the Austrian pianist Friedrich Gulda.

It is curious to note that even the Day-Dates’ matching boxes have always been “exclusive”, bigger than other models’ boxes; from the burgundy leather with gold inscriptions of the 1950s and 1960s to the brown leather with a Rolex buckle on the lid to a Rolls-Royce on the cover of the Rolex booklet in the 1980s.
Symbol of luxury and prestige, the Day-Date has always captivated Middle-Eastern buyers to the point of being produced with appliqué Arabic numerals and the crossed swords emblem of Oman. The Day-Date Oysterquartz did not enjoy the same success; it was produced by Rolex in 1977 in both yellow and white golds with an electromechanical movement calibre 5055, shaped case and President bracelet.
There were hints at the Oysterquartz, in particular its case, a few years earlier with the extremely rare Day-Date reference 1831 of which only eight models were produced for a special order. This exclusive model has a movement calibre 1556, a platinum case, pie-pan bezel and dial with diamonds and never seen before integrated bracelet.
However the range’s rarest watches of all are still those of steel made around the mid 1950s and destined as a reward for the students of the École d’Horlogerie de Genève.
At the Baselworld 2008 tradefair the company launched its latest creation in groundbreaking luxury: the Day-Date II. The model has a 41mm case, bigger than the standard measure, has a Super-President bracelet with a Crownclasp and an automatic 3256 calibre mechanical movement equipped with a Parachrom spiral and the new Paraflex protection system.

The Rolex Day-Date II is available in different variants:

-Reference 218206 in platinum, with a domed bezel, matt black dial with Arabic numerals or light blue with Roman numerals

-Reference 218238 in 18kt yellow gold, with a fluted bezel and ivory dial with Arabic numerals

-Reference 218235 in 18kt Everose, with a fluted bezel and pink dial with Roman numerals

-Reference 218239 in 18kt white gold, with a fluted bezel and ivory dial with Roman numerals.

Platinum	Gold
Cyclops plexiglass crystal	Sapphire crystal
The colour yellow represents gold in all its variants: Rose, White and Yellow. For more information contact our experts: drg@dellaroccagioielli.com