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Lot Essay
Featuring the rare and striking ‘Buckley’-type champagne dial with black Roman numerals and matching hands, the present highly attractive Day-Date is an intriguing and historically significant example of reference 1803. Believed to be a prototype or test watch developed in anticipation of the introduction of the sapphire crystal, which would replace the acrylic crystal traditionally fitted to reference 1803, it represents a fascinating transitional chapter in the evolution of the celebrated Day-Date. The sapphire crystal was officially introduced to the Day-Date collection in 1977 with the launch of reference 18038. This new reference marked a significant development in the history of the model, incorporating the upgraded calibre 3055 with its quickset date function, replacing the earlier calibres 1555 and 1556 used in reference 1803.
The present reference 1803 displays several highly unusual characteristics that distinguish it from standard production examples, incorporating certain features subsequently introduced with reference 18038. Most notably, the case does not bear the customary serial number engraved between the lower lugs, instead displaying the unusual inscription ‘BT63’. The interior of the caseback is conventionally signed and bears the appropriate gold hallmarks and engraved reference number ‘1803’, but is additionally marked ‘RB 00 3’ in black ink. Furthermore, the watch is fitted with a sapphire crystal rather than the acrylic crystal normally associated with reference 1803, while its movement is the later calibre 3055, officially introduced with reference 18038. Taken together, these remarkable anomalies strongly suggest that the present timepiece may have served as a prototype or experimental timepiece, most probably used to test the new sapphire crystal and upgraded movement immediately prior to the launch of reference 18038.
An exceptional addition to any comprehensive Day-Date collection, this extraordinarily rare and visually striking timepiece offers a fascinating insight into a pivotal period of technical development at Rolex. Believed to represent an experimental stage in the transition between references 1803 and 18038, it stands as a potentially important historical witness to the evolution of one of the manufacture’s most iconic and enduring models.
The present reference 1803 displays several highly unusual characteristics that distinguish it from standard production examples, incorporating certain features subsequently introduced with reference 18038. Most notably, the case does not bear the customary serial number engraved between the lower lugs, instead displaying the unusual inscription ‘BT63’. The interior of the caseback is conventionally signed and bears the appropriate gold hallmarks and engraved reference number ‘1803’, but is additionally marked ‘RB 00 3’ in black ink. Furthermore, the watch is fitted with a sapphire crystal rather than the acrylic crystal normally associated with reference 1803, while its movement is the later calibre 3055, officially introduced with reference 18038. Taken together, these remarkable anomalies strongly suggest that the present timepiece may have served as a prototype or experimental timepiece, most probably used to test the new sapphire crystal and upgraded movement immediately prior to the launch of reference 18038.
An exceptional addition to any comprehensive Day-Date collection, this extraordinarily rare and visually striking timepiece offers a fascinating insight into a pivotal period of technical development at Rolex. Believed to represent an experimental stage in the transition between references 1803 and 18038, it stands as a potentially important historical witness to the evolution of one of the manufacture’s most iconic and enduring models.