1978 Rolex Day-Date Ref. 1803 'Champagne dial' in 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It would not be superseded by its five-digit replacement until the late 1970’s, nearly 20 years later.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 1978 in 18K yellow gold.

 

It features a very lightly worn and lovely champagne dial with big tritium lume plots that remain intact and have aged to a creamy patina. The original hands show a whiter tone.

 

The 18K solid yellow gold case is strong as it remains thick and presents very little wear signs. 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 Rolex buckle.

 

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