DAY-DATE 'KHANJAR' MODEL, REF. 1803, CASE NO. 2'988'814, CIRCA 1972

The Rolex Day-Date reference 1803, produced from circa 1959 to 1978, stands as one of the most iconic expressions of the “President” lineage, pairing a 36 mm. precious-metal Oyster case with the elegant fluted bezel and vintage charm of an acrylic crystal. Early models ran on the caliber 1555, later upgraded to the caliber 1556, which gained hacking seconds in the early 1970s. Its signature pie-pan dial and wide range of configurations — from varied day-language discs to rare textured or colored dials — contributed to its lasting appeal and collectible status. As the final major pre–quick-set Day-Date generation, the 1803 marks a bridge between Rolex’s mid-century design language and the more modern five-digit references that followed, securing its place as a cornerstone of the Day-Date’s historical evolution.

'Khanjar' Rolex dials
Prominently positioned on Rolex dials, the Khanjar symbol, the emblem of the Sultanate of Oman, was applied on timepieces ordered by the Sultan and later distributed as gifts to dignitaries or individuals close to His Majesty. Dials coveting this special symbol were only manufactured up until the 2000s when the Maison decided to change its location to the caseback as well as stamping it on the outer presentation boxes. Highly sought-after, such early timepieces with 'Khanjar' dials are highly collectible in today's market.