A yellow gold Rolex Day-Date

The Rolex Oyster Perpetual Day-Date is a COSC certified, self-winding chronometer manufactured by Rolex. Initially presented in 1956, the Day-Date was the first watch to display the date as well as the day, spelled in full.[1] The calendar display is offered in 26 languages.[2]

Due to its association with the President of the United States and its imposing presence on the wrist, the Day-Date earned the nickname "The President."

The Day-Date is one of Rolex's models made only in solid 18k yellow gold, 18k white gold, 18k everose gold (Rolex's version of 18k rose gold), and platinum (PT950).[3] It also is the only model offered with the "President" bracelet in matching precious metals.

Rolex Stella

A variant of the Day-Date called the "Lacquered Stella" (now more commonly known as "Stella") was introduced to Middle Eastern and Asian markets in the 1970s.[4][5] The Stella featured vivid, bright color dials[6] and was rumored to be named after the American painter Frank Stella.[7] A gold with yellow lacquered Stella sold at Christie's for $131,250 in 2019.[8]

As of 2020, Rolex offers two sizes of the Rolex Day-Date: 40 mm and 36 mm.[9]

Eleven different Rolex Stella watches with different colorful, lacquered enamel dials

Like the Rolex Day-Date, the Stella dial features the date and the day, spelled in full, but unlike the standard edition Day-Date which traditionally features dial colors in black, gold, or silver, the Stella features dial colors in red, orange, oxblood, blue, green, turquoise, peach, salmon, pink, yellow, or purple.[10][11][12][13]

History

Originally introduced in the 1970s, the Stella dial was considered unpopular due to the vibrancy of colors,[14] as Rolex buyers preferred the more conservative Day-Date dials, like white, black, and silver.[15]

Due to a limited production[16] and the possibility Rolex destroyed several Stella pieces due to lack of commercial success,[14] the Stella has become popular among vintage watch collectors[17] and is considered to be an inspiration to newer Rolex models with vividly colored dials.[18]

The Stella model with 18k gold and yellow lacquered dial is considered one of the rarest, with one selling at Christie's for US$131,250 in 2019,[19] with another selling for 275,000 Swiss Francs (approximately US$300,000) at Phillips.[20] In 2022, Monaco Legend Auctions brokered the sale of a yellow lacquered dial Stella for €650,000 (US $685,340).[21] Other models with different dial color and band combinations have been sold for over CHF50,000.[22]

In 2013, Rolex released a new Day-Date with vividly colored leather straps and matching colored dials[23] that Rolex enthusiasts also dubbed "Stella."[24][25]

In September 2020, Rolex introduced five new Oyster Perpetual watches featuring bright, vibrant colored, enamel lacquered dials like the original Stella from the 1970s.[26][18]

Today, the Day-Date is available in 26 different languages English, Spanish, Dutch, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Arabic, German, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Chinese, Danish, Basque, Catalan, Ethiopian, Finnish, French, Greek, Hebrew, Moroccan, Norwegian, Persian, Swedish and Turkish.[27]

Famous wearers

36th President of the United States, Lyndon Johnson, shown wearing his Rolex Day-Date in 1968

References

  1. ↑ "Official Rolex Website". www.rolex.com. Archived from the original on 3 April 2012.
  2. ↑ "Reality of Time: Rolex's Oyster Perpetual Day-Date 40".
  3. ↑ "Official Rolex Website". www.rolex.com. Archived from the original on 3 April 2012.
  4. ↑ "A Brief History of Rolex Stella Dial Timepieces". watchtime. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  5. ↑ Callan, Andy (28 August 2019). "The Top 10 Rolex Day-Date Dials -". Beckertime, LLC. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  6. ↑ "Take a Look at Paul Altieri's Complete Rolex Stella Dial Collection". Hypebeast. 15 April 2020. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  7. ↑ "Inside Paul Altieri's Complete Rolex Stella Dial Collection". www.msn.com. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  8. ↑ "10 Rolex references to die for". www.christies.com. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  9. ↑ "The Rolex Day-Date". Rolex. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  10. ↑ Peterson, Jane A. (4 September 2017). "Vintage Rolex Is What This Collector Craves". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  11. ↑ "Rolex: The first six you should buy | British GQ". 14 November 2017.
  12. ↑ "Seeing Green: The Most Prevalent of Rolex Dial Colors". www.thewatchbox.com. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  13. ↑ "Hands-On: With The New Rolex Day-Date With Colored Dials (Live Pics, Pricing)". Hodinkee. 11 June 2013. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  14. 1 2 "The Unusual Rolex Stella dial | WatchCollectors.co.uk". 14 May 2018. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  15. ↑ "The rarest vintage Rolex Daydate President Stella Dial 1803". www.goldentimeco.com. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  16. ↑ "Inside Paul Altieri's Complete Rolex Stella Dial Collection". www.yahoo.com. 15 April 2020. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  17. ↑ "The Highly Coveted Rolex Stella Dial". Bob's Watches. 23 January 2018. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  18. 1 2 "The Rolex Stella Dial was Here Before". Everest Horology Products. 6 September 2020. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  19. ↑ "Rolex. A very find and very rare 18K gold automatic wristwatch with a yellow lacquired Stella dial, sweep centre seconds, day, date and original guarantee, signed Rolex, Oyster Perpetual, day-date, superlative chronometer, officially certified, ref. 1803, case no. 5'107'722, circa 1977". www.christies.com. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  20. ↑ "Rolex - A very rare and attractive yellow gold and diamonds calendar wristwatch with bracelet, centre seconds, yellow lacquered "Stella" dial, guarantee and box, 1973". Phillips. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  21. ↑ "Rolex, Extremely Rare, Very Attractive and… | Lot 272, Exclusive Timepieces, Sessions I, II, III". Monaco Legend Auctions. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
  22. ↑ "Rolex. A very rare and attractive 18K gold automatic wristwatch with sweep centre seconds, day, date, green Stella dial, bracelet, original guarantee and box, signed Rolex, Oyster Oerpetual, day-date, ref. 1803, case no. 3'312'280, CIRCA 1972". www.christies.com. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
  23. ↑ "Baselworld" (PDF). 18 September 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 September 2013. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  24. ↑ "The Highly Coveted Rolex Stella Dial". JustLuxe. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  25. ↑ "Take a Look at Paul Altieri's Complete Rolex Stella Dial Collection". Hypebeast. 15 April 2020. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  26. ↑ https://content.rolex.com/dam/new-watches-2020/media/brochures/grand-public/2020_Oyster_New_Models_en.pdf
  27. ↑ "Rolex Oyster Perpetual Day-Date [Watch Wiki]". www.watch-wiki.net. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  28. ↑ "The Watch that John F. Kennedy Never Wore - Barrington". Barrington Watch Winders. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  29. ↑ "Historical Perspectives: Your Complete Guide To The Watches Of United States Presidents (Updated Yet Again)". Hodinkee. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  30. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Who Wears Rolex Day Date?". The Watch Club by SwissWatchExpo. 17 February 2020. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  31. ↑ "In-Depth: Twelve Of The Greatest Missing Watches". Hodinkee. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  32. ↑ "Warren Buffett's Rolex Day-Date is a bold flex, even for a billionaire". British GQ. 24 January 2021. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  33. 1 2 3 "Culture Of Time: How One Rolex Became The NBA's De Facto Starter Watch". Hodinkee. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  34. ↑ "Talking Watches: With Culinary Icon Emeril Lagasse, Bam!". Hodinkee. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
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