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Rolex Day-Date History: The President’s Watch
• benjohnson
As the first self-winding timepiece to simultaneously display the weekday, date and time, the Oyster Perpetual Rolex Day-Date has confidently earned its place in Rolex's prestigious hall of fame. It is one of the most influential watches in the Swiss brands' history, with an exemplary design infused with classic Rolex grandeur.
Since its launch in 1956, Presidents and leaders have famously worn the Day-Date, earning it the nickname the President’s watch. As such, it has become an inspiring symbol of luxury and potential, remaining at the forefront of excellence in today's ever-changing watchmaking landscape.
Here, we look at Rolex Day-Date history, including how this prestigious timepiece earned its nickname, the President's watch, and how its luxurious features make it stand out.
Table of contents
- Rolex Day-Date history
- Rolex Day-Date features
- Is the Oyster Day-Date waterproof?
- Oyster Day-Date models
- Shop the Rolex President Day-Date watch at Miltons Diamonds
Rolex Day-Date 118238 - Gold Watch - Diamond Dial - 2003
Rolex Day-Date history
Whether a new or seasoned Rolex collector, you’ve likely heard of the President’s watch. This prestigious model is Rolex’s most famous creation, earning signature status in the Swiss brand’s history. However, you won’t see ‘The President’ inscribed on any of its features, as despite its popularity, ‘The President’ is a nickname –– reflecting the model’s iconic and cherished status among collectors.
Upon launching in 1956, the Day-Date offered collectors a truly opulent timepiece beautifully crafted in precious metals, including gold or platinum. It was the first watch to include the day of the week in full and the date, stylishly hung at the dial’s 12 o’clock point, while the date window sat comfortably at 3 o’clock. The watch was majestically complemented by its 3 linked bracelet, officially branded the President bracelet, which has become just as famous today as the Day-Date itself.
The Day-Date watch design has remained consistent throughout the years, with very small modifications to enhance its technical performance. Below, we explore the various versions of the Day-Date, its features, and how it has become the watch associated with revolutionary world leaders.
Rolex Day-Date features
Available only in precious metals, the Rolex Day-Date is synonymous with prestige and luxury, quickly becoming the watch of choice for influential leaders worldwide. Its features make it stand out, including a self-winding dial that spells the day and date of the week in full. At launch, the Day-Date was the first of its kind to offer this feature, and today it is available in 26 languages.
The Rolex President bracelet
The Day-Date's President bracelet was specially created at the model's launch in 1956, and today, it is just as recognisable as the timepiece itself.
In line with the Day-Date's luxurious status, the accompanying President bracelet was only available in 18ct gold or 950 platinum. It featured three durable links for the wearer's comfort and security, alongside a concealed Crownclasp that reveals a hinged Rolex crown – a beautiful touch for a truly prestigious creation.
Rolex Day-Date 128235 - 18ct Rose Gold - Diamond Dial - 2022
Is the Oyster Perpetual Day-Date waterproof?
The Oyster Day-Date is waterproof to a depth of 100 metres. It features a crown fitted with a Twinlock double waterproofness system, which securely screws down against the case for peak protection.
Oyster Day-Date models
There have been various versions of the Rolex Day-Date President watch, each as luxurious as the last. Here, we delve into Rolex Day-Date history and the different models which have cemented the Day-Date as Rolex’s signature watch.
Rolex Day-Date 180x
The first Day-Date was launched in 1956, available with a polished (ref 6510) or fluted bezel (ref 6511). However, several necessary improvements were identified to improve the Day-Date’s mechanics, leading Rolex to launch the 18xx series in 1959.
This series included the Day-Date 180x, which became the most famous version of the series. It featured a luxurious 36mm case and gold fluted bezel, with a gold President bracelet to match. It was also available in other precious metals, including yellow, white and rose gold.
In 1972, Rolex updated the model’s calibre to feature the 1556 automatic movement.
Rolex Day-Date 180xx
The Day-Date 180xx was launched in 1997, equipped with a brand-new movement to enhance the series’ performance. As with previous models, the 180xx was available in various precious metals and bezel styles. The model was also updated to allow the date window to be set separately from the hands.
Rolex Oysterquartz Day-Date
The same year as the 180xx launched, Rolex also launched the Oysterquartz Day-Date model. It was beautifully designed in line with classic Rolex grandeur and features the in-house Rolex 5055 movement. The Oysterquartz was also available in white and yellow gold.
Rolex Day-Date 182xx
In 1988, Rolex launched another Day-Date model with an enhanced movement: The calibre 3155. This allowed wearers to set the date and numerical day windows separately from the watch hands.
Rolex Day-Date 118xxx
In 2000, Rolex released the 118xxx series, which featured the same movement and 36mm Oyster cases as previous models. However, this newest reveal significantly improved the watch bracelet and clasp. It offered various designs for collectors, including yellow, white and rose gold models, as well as platinum and diamond options.
Rolex Day-Date 118208 - White Dial - 2001
Rolex Day-Date II
In 2008, Rolex launched a surprise Day-Date collection featuring a larger 41mm case size. Like previous versions, the Day-Date ll was available in a prestigious selection of precious metals, including yellow gold, rose gold, white gold, and platinum.
With its increased size came even more luxury, and the Day-Date ll was greatly favoured by those who enjoy larger watches.
Rolex Day-Date -218239 - Black Dial - 2014
The Day-Date 40
Though the Day-Date ll was a welcome addition to many Rolex collectors, its production time was cut short and replaced by the Day-Date 40 in 2015.
The Day-Date 40 features a slightly smaller case size than its predecessor, with a new movement to match. This enhanced the model’s accuracy, and it is this model that is available in Rolex’s catalogue today.
Shop the Rolex President Day-Date watch at Miltons Diamonds
The Rolex Day-Date, famously regarded as the President's watch, stands tall in Rolex history. It is the brand's most influential creation, with a prestigious history on the wrists of world leaders, revolutionaries, and, of course, Presidents.
Part of the joy of owning such a prestigious watch is its iconic status, and there's no doubt that this luxurious creation will continue to bring Rolex collectors worldwide joy and attention with every wear.
Our Rolex Day-Date collection offers an exemplary range of new and pre-owned Rolex President models, complete with Rolex boxes, papers, and manuals. Shop the collection today and enjoy Rolex's most prestigious watch with Miltons Diamonds! Or, for more stunning models from throughout Rolex's history, shop the complete Rolex collection.