255 Rolex A precious and refined, Day-Date, automatic wristwatch in pink gold, with brilliant diamond-set dial, reference 1803.

Estimate: € 30.000 –⁠ 60.000

• Model Day-Date
• Year Circa 1961
• Reference 1803
• Case Material 18K pink gold
• Case Number 722'081
• Bracelet Material 18K pink gold Rolex bracelet, approximate length 210mm
• Movement Automatic, cal. 1555, 25 jewels
• Dimension 36mm Diameter
• Signed Case, dial and movement

The Day-Date has long been Rolex’s ultimate statement: precious metal only, no compromises, and a design that has defined power dressing since 1956. Within that lineage, reference 1803 captures the model at its most classic: fluted bezel, pie-pan dial, and the confident proportions that made it a fixture on the wrists of presidents, captains of industry, and tastemakers alike.
This example, however, steps quietly away from the expected.
Crafted in pink gold, it pairs its warm case with a refined silvered dial configured in a rarely seen diamond layout. Rather than following the standard pattern associated with gem-set Day-Dates, this dial alternates brilliant-cut diamonds at the even hours with applied batons at the odd markers. The result is subtle but striking: a measured rhythm of light and restraint, sparkle and structure. The 36 mm Oyster case remains well defined, with strong lugs and a crisp fluted bezel that catches the light beautifully. The soft tone of the pink gold harmonizes effortlessly with the cool silver dial, while the luminous hands maintain legibility and balance.
Reference 1803 represents the era when the Day-Date became a global symbol, and yet pieces like this remind us how much variation existed within that framework. Unusual dial executions, especially in precious metal cases, add a layer of individuality that seasoned collectors increasingly appreciate.
Confident but not ostentatious, classic yet subtly unconventional, this pink-gold Day-Date stands as a refined interpretation of Rolex’s most emblematic model.