Live Auction 1401Important Watches including Property from an Important European Collection
Rolex. A very rare 18K gold automatic calendar wristwatch with sweep centre seconds and black lacquered dial
Lot 341

Rolex. A very rare 18K gold automatic calendar wristwatch with sweep centre seconds and black lacquered dial

SIGNED ROLEX, OYSTER PERPETUAL, DAY-DATE, REF. 1803, CASE NO. 2'475'183, CIRCA 1971

Closed12 May 2014

Price Realised

CHF 40,000

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Rolex. A very rare 18K gold automatic calendar wristwatch with sweep centre seconds and black lacquered dial
Signed Rolex, Oyster Perpetual, Day-Date, ref. 1803, case no. 2'475'183, circa 1971
Cal. 1556 automatic movement, 26 jewels, black lacquered dial, applied gold baton numerals, luminous accents, luminous hands, sweep centre seconds, aperture for day, magnified window for date, tonneau-shaped water-resistant-type case, milled bezel, screw back, screw down crown, gold plated Rolex buckle, case, dial and movement signed
36 mm. diam.

Specialist note

With Rolex Guarantee dated 8 April 1971, Attestation de Chronomètre Officiel stamped by an American retailer, Day-Date booklet in English and period presentation box.

For a short period of time in the 1970's, the Rolex Day-Date reference 1803 was available with colored dials that had the appearance of enamel. These coloured dial variants are referred to by collectors as Stella dials and are highly collectible in today's market.

Among all the different dial colours, black is most likely amongst the rarest version. The rarity of the present "Stella" Day-Date is further enhanced by its excellent overall condition and the presence of the original documentation.

Reference 1803 is illustrated in 100 Years of Rolex, by F. & G. Mondani, 2008, p. 77.