Join us in this blog to discover the history, features and value of a Rolex DayDate.
The History of the Rolex Day-Date
The Rolex Day-Date is also known as the "President" and can be seen as Rolex's flagship model. It has been worn by many current and former presidents as it is exclusive to precious metals. Hence the nickname stated above. Presidents Ford, Nixon, Trump, and Reagan have all been spotted with a Day-Date. But more importantly, a lot of influential characters have worn this watch, and it's known as the winner's watch.
The Rolex Day-Date is a historical and innovative Rolex piece. Introduced in 1956, the Day-Date was the first self-winding wristwatch to display the date and the day of the week spelt out whole on the dial.
The President was originally released in a classic 36mm case size; the original model was crafted from yellow gold and featured a fluted bezel and presidential bracelet, which is similar to the design today.
Since the release of the Day-Date in 1956, the model has benefited from subtle design changes, and today, Rolex offers the model in four different precious metals and in both 36mm and 40mm case sizes.
The Rolex Day-Date 40
The Day-Date 2 was introduced in 2008 to fulfil the demand for larger watches. After seven short years of production, Rolex fans and Rolex finally agreed that the 41 mm case size was too large and disproportionate. Shortly after discontinuing the Day-Date 2 in 2015, Rolex introduced the Day-Date 40; the piece was instantly a hit due to its perfect case size and configuration.
Features of a Rolex Day-Date
The Rolex Day-Date features an Oyster case, fluted bezel and presidential bracelet. The watch can be crafted from any of Rolex's precious metals, including platinum, Everose gold, white gold and yellow gold, and although the piece has been spotted with numerous different bracelets over the years, the current, classic and only option is the 3-link presidential bracelet. The Day-Date is configurable with many dials, and we recommend you check out the Rolex configurator website to view them all! Here is the link.
Rolex Day-Date Movement
Both Day-Date models currently feature the self-winding calibre 3255. The 3255 movements are entirely manufactured and developed by Rolex themselves. Not only does this movement offer a 2-second precision after casing, but it also has 31 jewels and an impressive 70-hour power reserve.
How much does a Rolex Day-Date cost?
The Rolex Day-Date has such a significant price range because of the age of the model, the rarity of specific models, and the materials used to make them. For example, a platinum Day-Date 40 with a diamond bezel and full diamond-paved dial is going to cost (RRP) over double the amount of a white gold Day-Date 40 with a plain white dial. This price difference can be amplified in the secondary market due to multiple factors, but most commonly, supply and demand.
Buy, sell or trade a Rolex Day-Date
At LBJ Watches, we always stock a selection of Day-Dates at our Hatton Garden location; we also have an extensive and strong international network, which allows us to source luxury watches promptly and securely. To view our available Day-Dates, click here! At LBJ Watches, we offer instant payment and fair market value for all Rolex watches. If you are interested in selling or trading in your Rolex Day Date, click here to get a same-day quote.
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