Description:
ROLEX DAYDATE REF. 1803 DIAMOND DIAL “RIVETTI” BRACELET
The Rolex Daydate made its first appearance at the Basel Fair in 1956, an extraordinary novelty for the time, being the first automatic watch made of precious material with a waterproof case and equipped with a date and day of the week complication. Its success was immediate, a true icon of watchmaking was born, which can still be found in the modern version in the Rolex catalog almost 70 years after its presentation. In 1959, Rolex introduced an updated version of the Daydate: the reference 1800, with its main features being: a new caliber with 18,000 frequency and a slimmer and slender case. Also for the 1803, only precious materials such as gold and platinum were used for the case. The different bezel variants of the reference 1800 were identified by a digit at the end of the reference number : 1803 fluted, 1802 smooth, 1807 bark, etc. Over the years, the Daydate 1800 series will become the Daydate par excellence for Rolex enthusiasts.
This Rolex Day-Date 1803 is a truly stunning watch, notable for both its exceptional quality and its rare features, such as the no lume diamond dial and hands but also the bracelet. Its most special feature is undoubtedly the “Rivetti” bracelet, which is extremely rare and highly sought after by collectors. These “Rivetti” bracelets are exceptionally scarce and were mounted on both the reference 1803, as in this case, and the reference 1802, the Rolex Day-Date with a smooth bezel. In white gold, they were produced in extremely limited quantities, making this watch exceptionally special. The watch was made in 1970 and is in truly exceptional condition. The bezel still has sharp and well defined edges, the case has deep hallmarks and lugs that match the original factory proportions, the rare no lume diamond dial is in excellent like new condition, the 1556 works perfectly. Every component of the watch is correct for 1970: fluted bezel, silver no lume TswissT diamond dial, caliber 1556 numbered “DD”, caseback signed 1803, twinlock crown, “Rivetti” bracelet with correct 76 end links and a little earlier clasp.
Year 1970, Serial Number 2,575,XXX, Diameter 36m.