156
Rolex
Ref. 1803
Day-Date
A very fine and rare yellow gold calendar wristwatch with center seconds, red lacquer dégradé dial, diamond-set indexes and bracelet
- Estimate
- CHF12,000 - 24,000€13,000 - 25,900$14,700 - 29,400
- Manufacturer
- Rolex
- Year
- Circa 1975
- Reference No
- 1803
- Case No
- 4'205'814
- Model Name
- Day-Date
- Material
- 18K yellow gold
- Calibre
- Automatic, cal. 1556, 26 jewels
- Bracelet/Strap
- 18k yellow gold Rolex President bracelet, max length 185mm
- Clasp/Buckle
- 18k yellow gold Rolex deployant clasp stamped A
- Dimensions
- 36mm diameter
- Signed
- Case, dial, movement and bracelet signed
Catalogue Essay
Rolex’s "Stella" dials are now among the most sought-after dial variations a collector can dream of. They were produced from the 1960s to the 1990s, and are defined by their monochromatic bright colors and glossy lacquered surface. An evolution of the technique is what brought to the world the equally attractive and collectible dégradé dials, offering a similar glossy effect, but instead of a monochrome hue, the color of the dial subtly shifts from the center to the rim. In this case the deep red of the center darkens to burgundy/oxblood by the rim. The diamond-set numerals add a touch of flair and light to the already bedazzling dial.
Offered in very honest condition and with a luxurious Rolex president bracelet, the present watch will grant intellectual and aesthetic enjoyment in equal parts to its new lucky owner.
Rolex
Swiss | 1905Founded in 1905 England by Hans Wilsdorf and Alfred Davis as Wilsdorf & Davis, it soon became known as the Rolex Watch Company in 1915, moving its headquarters to Geneva in 1919. Like no other company, the success of the wristwatch can be attributed to many of Rolex's innovations that made them one of the most respected and well-known of all luxury brands. These innovations include their famous "Oyster" case — the world's first water resistant and dustproof watch case, invented in 1926 — and their "Perpetual" — the first reliable self-winding movement for wristwatches launched in 1933. They would form the foundation for Rolex's Datejust and Day-Date, respectively introduced in 1945 and 1956, but also importantly for their sports watches, such as the Explorer, Submariner and GMT-Master launched in the mid-1950s.
One of its most famous models is the Cosmograph Daytona. Launched in 1963, these chronographs are without any doubt amongst the most iconic and coveted of all collectible wristwatches. Other key collectible models include their most complicated vintage watches, including references 8171 and 6062 with triple calendar and moon phase, "Jean Claude Killy" triple date chronograph models and the Submariner, including early "big-crown" models and military-issued variants.