Rolex Day-Date (President)
The gold-only flagship showing day and date in full, on the President bracelet.
Introduced
1956
Typical UK second-hand price
£15,000–£60,000+
Key references
| Reference | Notes |
|---|---|
| 1803 | Vintage 36 mm. |
| 228238 | Day-Date 40. |
About the Rolex Day-Date (President)
The Day-Date (1956) was the first wristwatch to show the day spelled out in full at 12 o'clock and the date at 3. Only made in gold or platinum, it gained the nickname 'President' after being worn by US presidents. Its three-piece-link President bracelet was designed for it.
Every reference by generation
| Reference | Years | Size | Calibre | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6511 / 6611 | 1956–1959 | 36 mm | 1055 / 1065 | First generation. |
| 1803 | 1959–1977 | 36 mm | 1556 | Classic vintage, stone dials. |
| 18038 / 18238 | 1977–2000 | 36 mm | 3055 / 3155 | Quickset, sapphire. |
| 118238 | 2000–2019 | 36 mm | 3155 | Solid end links. |
| 128238 | 2019–present | 36 mm | 3255 | Current 36 mm. |
| 228238 / 228206 | 2015–present | 40 mm | 3255 | Day-Date 40; platinum ice-blue. |
Dial and face variations
- Stone
- Onyx, lapis, tiger eye, sodalite.
- Champagne
- The archetypal gold President.
- Ice blue
- Platinum only.
- Language discs
- Day shown in 26 languages.
Collectible versions
Stone dials and platinum ice-blue.
What to check before buying
- Check the day wheel changes cleanly at midnight.
Serial number on Rolex: Older watches carry the serial between the lugs at 6 o'clock. From around 2005–2008 it moved to the rehaut (inner bezel ring), engraved and visible through the crystal.
Other Rolex models
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