Community Stories

Rolex Day Date 1803 - please post critique

ConElPueblo
Posts
9,596
Likes
27,673
Dear all.

An auction house near me have put up a diamond dialed white gold Day Date 1803. While I am not interested in buying this, I am curious as to what experts on here think of the dial/hands? It strikes me as being quite odd that the hands have no lume while the dial has... Also, the lume seems quite bright for the age of the piece.

Now, this might be very normal for the reference, but I find it pretty odd.

Any comments? Replaced dial? Genuine Rolex dial? Replaced hands?!?

08338572CC9CA89DCB18523A31A7BC9C.jpeg 35441F051211BDD77083E03AD95373ED.jpeg
 
southtexas
Posts
1,004
Likes
1,369
Need better pics, but that first pic tells me that the diamonds were added later (notice how the diamond at 11 doesn’t line up with the window like the diamond at 1 does). Also that is an 1807 “bark” finish, not an 1803.

Edit to add: or its an 1803 which had the bracelet refinished and a different bezel added. That look was popular down here in Texas in the 80’s. The “Texas Timex”.
 
Foo2rama
Posts
17,776
Likes
26,950
My ex had yellow Gold bark bezel on bark bracelet she had inherited, lovely watch.

The endlinks on this one worry me. What’s up with those gaps? Crown looks off as well.
 
watchknut
Posts
4,043
Likes
13,943
Melt it like queso...

Could be an interesting play, as it it worth a lot in metal value, and movement too.

Personally, I would love to buy, put on a plain bezel and non-serti dial. Sell the bracelet to help fun the head and dial/bezel swap.

Would be killer on a strap.
 
ConElPueblo
Posts
9,596
Likes
27,673
Mind you, I know extremely little about Rolex, so am I correct in saying, @southtexas, that it is only the 1807 that has a bark finish bezel? And that would be the defining feature setting it apart from the 1803? Also, is it correct that the bark finish should only be present on the center links on the bracelet?

@Foo2rama - good call about those gaps! I didn't notice before now, but once you see it..! That being said, when I google image the reference, I see a lot of ill-fitting end links; is this due to them being wrong for the ref. too? This holds true with the 1 and 11 o'clock diamond alignment too - when I did a search on 1803s with diamond dials, the same odd alignment were present.

@watchknut - I couldn't carry off any part of this watch 😁

I do support the idea of melting it, however 😉
 
Larry S
Posts
13,158
Likes
52,288
Ya learn something new everyday here on OF! I thought “Texas Timex” was just a reference to the ubiquity of the Brand during the oil boomlet. As for the watch....🤮
 
ConElPueblo
Posts
9,596
Likes
27,673
Foo2rama Foo2rama
After review the bracelet looks wrong. Look at the watch on Fratello right now from the week on the wrist segment from 2 days ago. It should have a hidden clasp. This watch looks like a regular clasp. The one my GF had was an older reference with no quickset on day or date, and it had a hidden clasp.

https://www.fratellowatches.com/rolex-day-date-18c-white-gold-52mondayz-week-51/

Why the Hell didn't I notice that to begin with...

The description states that the end links are stamped "53" - it seems to me that this is the ref. for a plain end link?
 
southtexas
Posts
1,004
Likes
1,369
Foo2rama Foo2rama
After review the bracelet looks wrong. Look at the watch on Fratello right now from the week on the wrist segment from 2 days ago. It should have a hidden clasp. This watch looks like a regular clasp. The one my GF had was an older reference with no quickset on day or date, and it had a hidden clasp.

https://www.fratellowatches.com/rolex-day-date-18c-white-gold-52mondayz-week-51/

There are some early President bracelets with “plain” clasp. I don’t know what serial this one is.
 
southtexas
Posts
1,004
Likes
1,369
ConElPueblo ConElPueblo
Mind you, I know extremely little about Rolex, so am I correct in saying, @southtexas, that it is only the 1807 that has a bark finish bezel? And that would be the defining feature setting it apart from the 1803? Yes and yes

Also, is it correct that the bark finish should only be present on the center links on the bracelet? I believe so, but back then a Rolex store would do virtually whatever a customer wanted mod-wise, so it could’ve left the store in that condition, or done later.

@Foo2rama - good call about those gaps! I didn't notice before now, but once you see it..! That being said, when I google image the reference, I see a lot of ill-fitting end links; is this due to them being wrong for the ref. too? This holds true with the 1 and 11 o'clock diamond alignment too - when I did a search on 1803s with diamond dials, the same odd alignment were present.

@watchknut - I couldn't carry off any part of this watch 😁

I do support the idea of melting it, however 😉
 
Sign up or log in to reply...

Similar threads

jfmiii

MINT 1971 Rolex Day-Date 1803 w/ rare 5 minute track dial

jfmiii Private Watch Sales
jfmiii
jfmiii
Posts
3
Views
5K
Ramone

1973 Rolex Day-Date 1803 'wide-boy' - full set with punched papers from Spain

Ramone Private Watch Sales
Ramone
Ramone
Posts
5
Views
10K
mr.kaplan

Rolex Day-Date ref.1803. White gold. Black dial. Amazing conditions.

mr.kaplan Watches For Sale
mr.kaplan
mr.kaplan
Posts
2
Views
10K
MPWATCH

Rolex Day-Date Spanish Ref. 1803 Serial 5XXXXX Circa 1960

MPWATCH Watches For Sale
MPWATCH
MPWATCH
Posts
7
Views
4K
afinewatch

Beautiful 1964 Rolex Day Date 1803, Black Dial, Gold Print

afinewatch Watches For Sale
afinewatch
afinewatch
Posts
14
Views
4K
afinewatch

Beautiful 1964 Rolex Day Date 1803, Black Dial, Gold Print !! $9,000

afinewatch Watches For Sale
afinewatch
afinewatch
Posts
6
Views
3K