Hands-On With The Rolex Day-Date: A Pearl in the Oyster

Rolex made a strong name for themselves in the tool watch arena in the 1950s by researching and producing watches for divers to calibrate safe underwater intervals, pilots to calculate time differentials and scientists to work around high magnetic fields. And in 1956, Rolex introduced the game-changing Oyster Perpetual Day-Date.

While not quite in the same tool category as the previous submariner, GMT and Milgauss, the Day-Date was a tool in its own right, one for everyday convenience. Debuting a new complication to the world, it was the first watch to have the date and a fully spelled out day of the week in a full window. Available only in 18ct gold or platinum, the Day-Date had a new bracelet that was made especially for this watch. Because of its elegance, refinement and practicality, many presidents took to the watch, such as Roosevelt, Nixon, Johnson, Kennedy and Ford. Upon its completion, Rolex supposedly gave one to then President of the United States, Dwight Eisenhower.

Over the decades the Day-Date has taken on different sizes and been festooned with decorations to give each model its own distinct flavor. This 36mm Everose gold and diamonds Day-Date is absolutely stunning. The eye naturally focuses in on the mother-of-pearl dial that features a wavy guilloché pattern that gives it a three-dimensional feel. What’s interesting about Mother-of-Pearl is that each shell is unique with its own pattern and color gradation so that every one of the Mother-of-Pearl dials is an original. The dial lights up with a diamond-encrusted patterned carousel cutout that overlays where the hour numerals would be. In addition, the bezel dazzles with baguette cut diamonds.

To match the pink gold case, the President bracelet also comes in the same color. The reason its named Everose gold is because Rolex has its own foundry and patented this 18ct pink gold alloy that is supposed to be more durable than its regular pink gold counterpart. Rolex might not make big jumps in aesthetic changes to models but they are always refining the details. The secure clasp with folding blades is hidden from view by a Rolex crown shaped lever so the bracelet is smooth and continuous without breaks in the line.

The Rolex Oyster Day-Date in Everose gold and diamonds contains an hour and minute hand and center hacking seconds with an instantaneous change of the day and date in the windows—all conveniently controlled by a screw-down crown. It runs off the solid manufacture made Calibre 3155, which is COSC certified to be accurate to -4/+6 seconds per day.

The Rolex Oyster Day-Date is a modern classic, one that will easily still be in style for several more half centuries and beyond. This model in particular is on trend in pink gold and a particular standout, a modern timekeeper wrapped in a lovely piece of jewelry.

Photo Credit: Haute Time. For more information, please visit the official Rolex website.