142 Rolex A fine, elegant and attractive Day-Date, automatic wristwatch in yellow gold with silvered "pie pan" dial, reference 1803.
Estimate: € 4.000 – 8.000
Create an account or log in to place bids.
- Model Day-Date
- Year 1959
- Reference 1803
- Case Material 18K yellow gold
- Case Number 532'071
- Bracelet Material Leather strap
- Movement Automatic, cal. 1055, 25 jewels
- Dimension 36mm Diameter
- Signed Case, dial and movement
Few wristwatches encapsulate the post-war optimism and self-assured elegance of the 20th century quite like the Rolex Day-Date reference 1803. Introduced at the very end of the 1950s, the 1803 belongs to the earliest generation of Day-Dates to be powered by the celebrated caliber 1555 and later 1556, movements that firmly established Rolex’s reputation for robustness and precision at the very top of the market. Importantly, the reference 1803 was produced exclusively in precious metals—most commonly yellow gold, but also in white gold and platinum underscoring from the outset that this was never meant to be a discreet watch. It was conceived as a statement: the first wristwatch to display both the day of the week spelled out in full and the date, instantly legible and unmistakably authoritative. The present example, executed in yellow gold, is a textbook illustration of why the reference 1803 has become such a cornerstone for collectors. The 36mm case retains the elegant proportions that define vintage Rolex at its best, with softly curved lugs that flow seamlessly into the fluted bezel an element that catches the light with remarkable subtlety rather than ostentation. Particularly appealing here is the overall conservation of the case, whose architecture remain well-defined and harmonious. The dial, finished in a restrained silvered tone, offers a masterclass in balance and legibility. Applied yellow-gold baton hour markers, faceted to reflect light from multiple angles, frame the dial with quiet confidence, while the matching hands complete a coherent and highly refined aesthetic. In sum, this yellow-gold Rolex Day-Date reference 1803 represents the model in one of its purest and most compelling forms. It is a watch that speaks not through excess, but through clarity of purpose, historical importance, and timeless design—an enduring symbol of achievement, and one of the most important wristwatches ever produced by the Geneva manufacture.
Condition Report
Create an account or log in to view the condition report!
Auction Preview
MONACO
Hôtel Méridien Beach Plaza, 22 avenue Princesse Grâce
24 April - From 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM
25 April - From 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM