Rolex Day-Date Ref. 1803, circa 1963
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
circa 1963
Maker / issuer
RolexThis Rolex Day-Date, reference 1803, is a wristwatch dating to approximately 1963. It features a yellow gold Oyster case with a characteristic yellow gold fluted bezel.
The watch is fitted with a sunburst silver dial, described as a 'Swiss Only' dial, which includes Tritium plots and door-stop style indices. The timepiece displays a day indicator at the 12 o'clock position and a date aperture with a magnifying cyclops lens at 3 o'clock. It is equipped with an obelisk-style handset. The watch is presented on a Rolex-signed brown leather strap accompanied by a signed yellow gold-tone buckle.
According to the provided information, the watch casing retains its original symmetry, exhibiting light signs of wear and localized tarnishing on the bezel and under-lug areas, while the dial surface remains clear with patina on the luminescent markers.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Technical characteristics
- Date
- circa 1963
- Type
- Day-Date wristwatch
- Bracelet
- Rolex-signed brown leather
- Reference
- 1803
- Case material
- Yellow gold
- Place recorded
- Switzerland
- Dial description
- Silver 'Swiss Only' sunburst
- Maker / attribution
- Rolex
Design
- Visible features
- • Sunburst silver dial with door-stop indices • Yellow gold fluted bezel • Brown leather strap with signed gold-tone buckle • Date window at 3 o'clock with cyclops magnification
- Strap and Hardware
- Unlike Day-Date models that use the factory gold 'President' bracelet, this unit is supplied on a leather strap. The strap is brown, fashioned from leather, and marked with the Rolex signature. The attachment hardware includes a signed buckle. The metal components of this buckle are finished in a yellow gold-tone, corresponding to the aesthetic of the case.
- Condition and Attribution
- The auction description reports the watch to be a strong example from the Rolex Day-Date line. The date of manufacture is attributed to approximately 1963 based on the model and dial specifications. Regarding condition, the watch displays expected wear patterns commensurate with age. The luminous material on the dial retains a patina, and the aforementioned tarnishing on the case is described as light.
- Case and Dial Construction
- The timepiece features a yellow gold Oyster case, which the seller describes as retaining its original thickness and symmetry. The bezel is constructed in yellow gold and incorporates a fluted finish. The exterior of the case shows standard usage signs, including light rosy-toned oxidation located on the underside of the lugs and along the bezel. The dial is a sunburst-finished silver display identified as a 'Swiss Only' variant. It features door-stop markers and Tritium luminous plots, both of which show signs of patina. The handset is configured in an obelisk style, and a cyclops lens is integrated over the 3 o'clock date aperture.
Identification
- Reference
- 1803
- Source note
- Facts transcribed from the linked source listing or collection record. Attribution and specifications are source-reported and have not been independently authenticated.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: The exact production year is attributed as circa 1963
- Research required: No internal movement or case-back serial imagery provided