Reference:day-date

Rolex Day-Date

The Day-Date is the Rolex reference that spells the day of the week in full at twelve o'clock and shows the date at three. Marc Huguenin's patent for the day-and-date wristwatch complication was filed 23 July 1955; Rolex debuted the watch at the Basel Fair in 1956 as the 6510. The President bracelet — the bracelet that gives the line its modern shorthand — arrived a year later in 1957 with the 6611. The line has been in the catalogue continuously since 1956, and it is the only Rolex line offered in precious metal alone. Steel and Rolesor have never appeared on a cataloged Day-Date; the marketing-test six-piece steel 6611 from the Geneva Horology School, sold at Antiquorum in October 2002, is the only documented exception.

The index runs from the 6510 originals era through the 4-digit 1803 era, the 5-digit 18038 / 18028 / 18048 / 18078 cluster, and the modern 6-digit 118238 generation. The post-2019 Day-Date 40 and Day-Date 36 successors (128238 / 128239 / 128235 / 128236 / 128288 / 128289 / 228235 / 228238 / 228239 with cal 3255 from 2019) fall outside the vintage and discontinued focus here.

The modern Day-Date silhouette — fluted bezel, President bracelet, champagne stick-index dial — the configuration the line has carried since the 1957 introduction of the President bracelet on the 6611.

Common entry points

Identifying the original 1956 Day-Date? 6510 — Marc Huguenin's 1955 patent, Basel 1956 launch, single-year cataloged run, Jubilee bracelet (the President bracelet arrives with the 6611 in 1957).

Cross-checking the canonical 4-digit Day-Date? 1803 — eighteen-year run 1959 to 1977-78, cal 1555 then cal 1556, the dial-variant explosion (Stella, Stern stone, Buckley, Wide-Boy, Underline, Red Quarters, Sigma), Nasser and LBJ provenance.

Researching a modern 36mm Day-Date? 118238 — nineteen-year run 2000 to 2019, cal 3155 with double quickset, Parachrom Blu mid-run rollout, engraved rehaut from 2006-07, the last 36mm Day-Date before the 128238 took over.

Originals era (1956–1959)

The 6510 opens the line at Basel 1956 with the cal 1055 — Rolex's first day-and-date caliber. The 6611 follows in 1957 with the President bracelet and the upgraded cal 1055 (Microstella balance, SCOC certification). The cluster runs through 1959 before the 1803 takes over the 4-digit era.

Reference	Production	Bezel	Bracelet	Key distinction
6510	1956–57	smooth / domed	Jubilee	The original Day-Date — cal 1055, single-year run, Italian-delivered case 134,636 is the earliest documented serial.
6511	1956–57	fluted	Jubilee	Parallel launch with the 6510. Introduces the fluted bezel that becomes the Day-Date signature.
6611	1957–59	fluted	President	First reference to wear the President bracelet. Upgraded cal 1055 with Microstella and SCOC dial.
6612	1957–59	smooth	President	Smooth-bezel sibling of the 6611.
6613	1957–59	gem-set	President	Factory diamond-set bezel sub-reference.
6611B	1958–59	fluted	President	Late variant of the 6611.
6612B	1958–59	smooth	President	Late variant of the 6612.

4-digit era (1959–1977/78)

The 1803 anchors the era with an eighteen-year run, the longest single-reference Day-Date production. Its catalogue siblings differ only in bezel finish.

Reference	Production	Movement	Bezel	Key distinction
1803	1959 to 1977-78	cal 1555 → cal 1556	fluted	The dial-variant-densest reference in the modern Rolex catalogue — Stella, Stern stone, Buckley Roman, Wide-Boy, Underline, Red Quarters, Sigma, Khanjar, Tiffany double-signed, Nasser/Sadat provenance.
1804	1959 to 1977-78	cal 1555 / 1556	gem-set	Factory diamond-set bezel in gold and platinum; the platinum Eastern-Arabic examples (Scheherazade) are among the most valuable 4-digit Day-Dates.
1806	1959 to 1977-78	cal 1555 / 1556	Florentine	Florentine finish on case, bezel and lugs; often on the rare brick bracelet.
1807	1959 to 1977-78	cal 1555 / 1556	bark	Full bark coverage on bezel + center links.
1811	1959 to 1977-78	cal 1555 / 1556	Morellis	Morellis (moiré) finish on bezel and bracelet center links.
1831	c.1977 (special order)	cal 1556 / 1566	diamond (integrated case)	The platinum "Emperor" — special-order integrated-bracelet case (1530 / 1630 / Oysterquartz idiom), about eight numbered examples for the household of the Shah of Iran plus the Omani Khanjar No. 9. Not a round President.

5-digit era (1977–1988)

Sapphire crystal arrives with this generation, and caliber 3055 brings the first quickset date. The 18038 is the volume reference; its siblings differ by bezel and material.

Reference	Production	Material	Bezel	Key distinction
18038	1977–1988	18k yellow gold	fluted	First sapphire-crystal Day-Date. Stella third-series dials (T SWISS MADE T marking), Stern stone-dial 1980–1990 expansion, wood-burl revival, the uncatalogued Pleiade diamond-pattern sub-variant (~7,000 CHF factory surcharge).
18028	1977–1988	18k yellow gold	smooth	Rare smooth-bezel President — the dressy outlier; value lives in the dial (stone/Stella).
18048	1977–1988	18k yellow gold	gem-set	Factory diamond bezel with 44 round brilliants.
18078	1977–1988	18k yellow gold	bark	Bark-finish bezel and bark center links. Limited production.
18039	1977–1988	18k white gold	fluted	White-gold equivalent of the 18038.
18049	1977–1988	18k white gold	gem-set	White-gold equivalent of the 18048.
18079	1977–1988	18k white gold	bark	White-gold equivalent of the 18078.
18026	1977–1988	platinum	smooth	Extremely rare platinum 5-digit Day-Date.

Late 5-digit era (1988–2000)

Caliber 3155 introduces double quickset (day and date both indexed from the crown). The 18238 takes the 36mm Day-Date through the 1990s.

Reference	Production	Movement	Material	Key distinction
18238	1988–2000	cal 3155	18k yellow gold	Double quickset on the 36mm President. Transition reference before the 118238 takes the case forward into the 6-digit era.
18239	1988–2000	cal 3155	18k white gold	White-gold sibling.
18248 / 18249	1988–2000	cal 3155	bark	Bark-finish (écorce) bezel and bark center links — the cal-3155 successor to the 18078. The diamond-bezel cal-3155 references are the 18348 / 18349.
18348 / 18349	1988–2000	cal 3155	diamond	Factory diamond-set bezel; white gold 18349 (often Tridor), platinum 18346.
18208 / 18209	1988–2000	cal 3155	smooth	Plain polished bezel, the understated outlier; the platinum smooth is the ice-blue 18206.
18078 / 18079 carryover	—	—	—	Bark-finish siblings continued from the 5-digit era.

6-digit era (2000–2019)

The 118 generation refines the case and bracelet — broader lugs, solid centre links, concealed Crownclasp. Parachrom Blu hairspring rolls in from 2005; engraved rehaut from 2006–07. The 118238 closes the 36mm Day-Date era in 2019 before the 128238 takes over with the cal 3255.

Reference	Production	Material	Key distinction
118238	2000–2019	18k yellow gold	Volume reference of the 6-digit generation. Cal 3155, fluted bezel, President. The last 36mm yellow-gold Day-Date before the 128238.
118239	2000–2019	18k white gold	White-gold sibling on the President.
118208	2000–2019	18k yellow gold	Smooth/domed bezel; offered on President or Oyster bracelet. The understated sleeper; value in the dial (stone dials).
118138	2013–2019	18k yellow gold	Fluted bezel on a leather strap (gold deployant) — the dressiest, lightest and most affordable gold Day-Date; cognac/green dials.
118235	2005–2019	18k Everose	Everose launches 2005; the 118235 carries it on the President, best known for the chocolate dial.
118205	2005–2019	18k Everose	Smooth bezel + Oyster bracelet — the casual-aesthetic outlier in the President family.
118206	2000–2019	950 platinum	Smooth domed bezel, President. Ice-blue dial is the platinum signature.
118138 / 118135 / 118139	2013–2019	gold	Basel 2013 leather-strap subset (yellow / Everose / white).

Day-Date II (2008–2015)

The 41mm successor was the only Day-Date to break the 36mm Oyster envelope. Caliber 3156 scales the day-and-date module for the wider case.

Reference	Production	Material	Notes
218238	2008–2015	18k yellow gold	Day-Date II yellow gold, cal 3156, 41mm.
218239	2008–2015	18k white gold	White-gold sibling.
218235	2008–2015	18k Everose	Everose Day-Date II.
218206	2008–2015	950 platinum	Platinum Day-Date II — the ice-blue "President's President"; smooth bezel only.

Oysterquartz Day-Date (1977–2001)

The quartz outlier: cal 5055 in the integrated-bracelet Oysterquartz case, the only quartz Day-Date Rolex built.

Reference	Production	Material	Notes
19018	1977–2001	18k yellow gold	Oysterquartz Day-Date, cal 5055, integrated Oyster bracelet.
19019	1977–2001	18k white gold	White-gold Oysterquartz Day-Date.

Movement progression

Caliber	Era	Frequency	Quickset	Used in	Notes
1055 (original)	1956–57	18,000 vph	none	6510, 6511	First day-and-date caliber. Gradual changeover at midnight. No Microstella balance; no SCOC.
1055 (upgraded)	1957–59	18,000 vph	none	6611, 6612, 6613, 6611B, 6612B	Free-sprung Microstella balance and SCOC certification added. Same caliber number.
1555	1959 to c. 1965	18,000 vph	none	1803, 1804, 1806, 1807, 1811 (early)	Cal 1055-derived. Day-and-date complication carried forward.
1556	c. 1965 to 1977-78	19,800 vph	none	1803, 1804, 1806, 1807, 1811 (mid-and-late)	Higher frequency. Hacking seconds added 1972 (mid-production, not at caliber change).
3055	1977–1988	28,800 vph	single (date only)	18038 and siblings	First Day-Date with quickset. Sapphire crystal era. Day still requires running hands through midnight.
3155	1988–2019	28,800 vph	double (day + date)	18238, 118238 and siblings	Double quickset — both day and date indexed independently from the crown. The longest-running Day-Date caliber.
3156	2008–2015	28,800 vph	double	218238 Day-Date II	41mm scaled version of the 3155.
5055	1977–2001	quartz 32,768 Hz	double	19018, 19019 Oysterquartz	Quartz caliber, integrated-case Oysterquartz.

Special branches

Three branches drive the headline auction record across the Day-Date line.

The Omani Khanjar dials carry crossed sheathed khanjar daggers, sometimes under a kuma hat, printed in red, white, green, or gold, the Omani flag colours. They were commissioned through Sultan Qaboos bin Said, who reigned from 1970 to 2020, and they surface on the 1803 and later references, frequently alongside Asprey crossed-swords retailer marks and Khimji Ramdas (KR) Muscat distribution.

Tiffany & Co. double-signed dials ran through the late 1970s on the 1803 and into the 1980s and 1990s on subsequent references. They trade at two to three times standard equivalents.

Presidential provenance carries the headline lot in the modern Day-Date market. Sotheby's New York Important Watches in December 2024 sold Gamal Abdel Nasser's 1803 for USD 840,000 against a USD 30,000–60,000 estimate: yellow gold, champagne "claw" dial with Arabic day-and-date discs, caseback engraved "Mr Anwar El Sadat 26-9-1963" for a gift from Sadat to Nasser. Sotheby's collector guide also documents Lyndon B. Johnson, the president behind the line's "President" advertising nickname from 1966 onward, along with Tom Landry, Jack Nicklaus, Chris Evert, and Andy Warhol.

Notable misattributions

The Marlon Brando "Apocalypse Now" Rolex is a GMT-Master 1675, not a Day-Date. Phillips New York "Game Changers" December 10 2019 sold it for USD 1.95 million with the bezel removed by Brando on set and "M. Brando" hand-engraved on the caseback.

The Eisenhower-and-Day-Date claim in casual press is similarly misattributed. Eisenhower's documented Rolex is a yellow-gold Datejust ref 6305, gifted to him in 1951 — five years before the Day-Date even existed.

Related families

• Submariner — the dive line. Shares 1500-family movement architecture with the early Day-Date through the cal 1556 era; diverges at the cal 30xx generation.
• GMT-Master — the pilot line. The 1675 carries the same cal 1575 base movement as the early Sea-Dweller and shares 1500-family lineage with the early Day-Date.
• Bubbleback — the parent Oyster Perpetual line, source of the rotor automatic the Day-Date carries.

Shared references

• Serial numbers by year — date any Day-Date from its serial
• Movement reference — the calibers used across the Day-Date line
• Bracelet & clasp guide — bracelet types, end-links, and clasp date codes

Sources

Primary and specialist

• The Vintage Rolex Field Manual — Colin A. White, Morning Tundra
• Rolex Day-Date — Mondani Family, Guido Mondani Editore
• Day-Date — The Presidential Rolex — Pucci Papaleo Editore, Spin Edizioni, 2015
• Sotheby's editorial, "The Rolex Day-Date: A Complete Collector's Guide", Sotheby's
• Sotheby's Watches Department, "New York Important Watches, December 2024 — Gamal Abdel Nasser's ref. 1803", Sotheby's, 2024
• Antiquorum, "Lot 37 — ref. 6611 in steel, École d'Horlogerie de Genève prize watch", Antiquorum, 19 October 2002
• Monochrome editorial, "More Precious Than Gold! The Rolex Day-Date ref. 6611 in Steel", Monochrome Watches
• Phillips in association with Bacs & Russo, "Glamorous Day-Date, Geneva, lot 40 — ref. 6511, yellow gold", Phillips, 2015
• Phillips in association with Bacs & Russo, "Glamorous Day-Date, Geneva, lot 50 — ref. 6611, yellow gold, German-script SCOC dial", Phillips, 2015
• Phillips in association with Bacs & Russo, "Glamorous Day-Date, Geneva, lot 24 — ref. 1804 Scheherazade, platinum with Eastern-Arabic dial", Phillips, 2015
• Phillips in association with Bacs & Russo, "Glamorous Day-Date, Geneva, lot 51 — ref. 1831 Emperor No. 5, platinum with burgundy Stella dial", Phillips, 2015
• Antiquorum, "Geneva, lot 530 — ref. 1831 Emperor No. 5, platinum with burgundy Stella dial", Antiquorum, 2013
• Phillips in association with Bacs & Russo, "Glamorous Day-Date, Geneva, lot 11 — ref. 18048 with green Stella dial and Omani Khanjar emblem", Phillips, 2015
• Sotheby's, "Important Watches I, Hong Kong, lot 2106 — ref. 18078 bark with blue Stella diamond dial", Sotheby's, 2024
• Heritage Watches Department, "Lot 54041, sale 5515 — ref. 1803 with Lyndon B. Johnson family provenance", Heritage Auctions
• Ross Povey, "Bourn in Oman: The Rolex Collection", Revolution, 2023
• Sotheby's Watches Department, "Origins — Day-Date II Royal Khanjar ref. 218206, Sultan of Oman commission", Sotheby's, 2025

Editorial and market

• Monochrome editorial, "In-Depth: The History of the Rolex Day-Date, The Presidential Watch", Monochrome Watches
• Fratello editorial, "Rolex Day-Date — Historical Overview of Rolex's Flagship", Fratello Watches
• Italian Watch Spotter editorial, "The History of the Rolex Day-Date", Italian Watch Spotter
• WatchBase editorial, "Rolex Day-Date History", WatchBase, 2015
• Robb Report editorial, "The Rolex Day-Date: A Guide to Everything You Need to Know", Robb Report
• Jake Ehrlich, "1956 — The Very First Rolex Day-Date", Rolex Magazine, 2010
• A Collected Man editorial, "The Colourful World of Rolex Stella Dials", A Collected Man
• Revolution Watches editorial, "The Stella Revolution", Revolution Watches
• Italian Watch Spotter editorial, "Watch Guide: Rolex Stone Dials", Italian Watch Spotter
• SJX Watches, "A Brief History of the Arabic Day-Date", SJX Watches, 2016
• Le Monde Edmond editorial, "Rolex 1804 Day-Date — Summer Colors Edition", Le Monde Edmond
• Bob's Watches editorial, "History of Rolex Tiffany Dials", Bob's Watches
• SwissWatchExpo editorial, "Generations of the Rolex President Day-Date", SwissWatchExpo, 2024
• WatchBase, "Rolex caliber 1556", WatchBase
• WatchBase, "Rolex caliber 3155", WatchBase
• WatchBase, "Rolex caliber 3156", WatchBase
• Oysterquartz.net, "Oysterquartz reference and movement archive", Oysterquartz.net
• The 1916 Company editorial, "Rolex Quartz Movement History: Beta 21, Oysterquartz and Rare Models", The 1916 Company