Rolex’s iconic “Day-Date” was patented in 1955 and officially launched in 1956, and from its earliest beginnings, was worn by a number of well-known world leaders. The reference became known as the “President’s Watch” following a 1966 Rolex advertisement, which featured this now famous tag-line. The Day-Date model was the first wristwatch to display the day of the week fully spelled out, and while the present lot features English, Rolex offered the watch in 26 different languages.
For a period between the 1970s and 1990s, the reference 1803 was produced with vibrant, colored lacquered dials, which had the appearance of enamel known as the “Stella” dial. These rare and desirable dials showcase Rolex’s surprising playfulness and creativity, adding life to the classic Day-Date. The present lot has an extremely attractive “azure blue dial”, that is so beautiful, it is the identical dial color fitted on the watch to feature on the cover of “The Day-Date, The Presidential Rolex” by Pucci Papaelo. Preserved in superb, untouched condition, the present lot will certainly speak to any collector of vintage Rolex watches..