THE ESSENTIALS

MAKE: ROLEX
MODEL: 1803
YEAR: 1961
BOX/PAPERS: NO/NO
CASE DIAMETER: 36mm
CASE MATERIAL: 18K YELLOW GOLD
BRACELET MATERIAL: 18K YELLOW GOLD
MOVEMENT: AUTOMATIC

There are nice vintage Day-Dates and then there’s this.

Although not the very first Day-Date reference, the 1803 represents the first long-running execution of the model, produced from the early 1960s until around 1978. While neither the day nor the date function is independently adjustable, the design of the 1803 set the foundation for Day-Dates that has remained largely unchanged to the present day.

While the vast majority of 1803s feature silver or champagne dials with baton markers and hands (features that have remained until today), the present example, one of the very earliest 1803s produced features these gorgeous “claw” markers dial and “tapered” hands. Day-Date enthusiasts will know that condition is paramount. Unlike sports models such as the Submariner, signs of polishing are far more apparent on Day-Dates due to their slimmer profiles, refined case lines, and the use of precious metals.

That’s not a problem here, however. This 65-year-old watch remains in amazing condition. The case is still very strong, the original Jubilee bracelet is especially impressive with virtually no stretch, and the Rolex coronet remains beautifully sharp. The dial has developed a gentle creamy patina, and all of the lume plots are still intact.

The movement came to us in excellent health, running at +2 s/day with an amplitude of 310° and zero beat error. At the time of sale in the 1960s, these full-gold 1803s were priced at around 30–40% of the average UK house price… so few were sold, and to find one like this is simply amazing.