1973 Rolex Day-Date Ref. 1803 'Linen Sigma Champagne dial' 18K Yellow Gold

Launched in 1956, the Day-Date arrived 11 years after its closest cousin; the Datejust.

 

The ref. 1803 is to the Day-Date what the ref. 1601 is to the Datejust; the model where all the most important engineering and aesthetic details were squared away and the one which would go on to secure the piece’s unassailable reputation.

 

Ford, Kennedy, Reagan, Nixon, Roosevelt, Johnson… These are just some of the wearers of the Rolex Day-Date in gold. A watch that represents success, hard work, status, character, power, and respect has been chosen by many personalities as their daily beater, and there’s no wonder why.

 

It would not be superseded by its five-digit replacement until the late 1970’s, nearly 20 years later. During those two decades, it became the epitome of aspirational luxury.

This example offered here is a Rolex Day-Date Ref. 1803 from 1973 in 18K yellow gold.

 

It features a lovely Sigma ‘Linen’ champagne dial with creamy tritium lume plots that remains in excellent condition with very little signs of wear. The original hands show a matching patina (the lume on the minutes hand is partially missing).

 

The 18K solid yellow gold case is strong, remaining thick, and sharp with some normal signs of wear. The 18K yellow gold bezel remains in the same shape. The case back is also preserved in the same condition. All gold hallmarks remain clearly visible.

 

The acrylic crystal is clean.

 

The watch is working well and keeping time, as it has been recently fully serviced.

 

It comes suited on an unworn handmade leather strap with golden buckle.

 

Macros of dial and case, as well as inner case back, movement and service pictures are available under request.