Presented in 1956, the Oyster Perpetual Day-Date by Rolex has earned over time and "in the field" the nickname of the Presidents' Watch, thanks to the many powerful people of the world who have chosen it.
It is the most exclusive watch in the Oyster collection because it is the only one made only in precious metals. The Day-Date of Rolexalso known as the 'Presidents' Clock', worn throughout its history by leaders and elites from all over the world, was in the 1950s the first specimen to show, in addition to the date, the day of the week in letters and in full inside a semicircular window at 12.
A function strongly desired by Wilsdorf himself, who felt that the full day display was much more intuitive than the three-letter display in vogue up to that time and that the date and day information was more useful than the month information, as the former changes every 24 hours. Thus, after introducing the date window in 1945 with the Datejust, first wrist chronometer to display the date inside a window at 3 o'clock, to which the Cyclope magnifying glass was added in 1953 to make it easier to read, in 1956 the information for the day appears in full on 12. Even at the time of its presentation, the day and date indications were instantaneously triggered at midnight, a true technical feat for the time, based on a disc mechanism. Since then, the Day-Date has continued to be updated and now comes in two different designs, 40 and 36 millimetres.
Day-Date 40 with shaded slate dial
The President bracelet was introduced by Rolex in 1956 on the occasion of the launch of the Day-Date.
Among the most recent interpretations of the Day-Date 40, the version with a slate ombré dial introduced last year represented a first in this case size, since shaded dials had so far been reserved only for the Day-Date 36. The surface, coloured in the centre, progresses to a deep black on the edge, achieved through a meticulous application of black lacquer. This version comes in Everose gold with a knurled bezel and President bracelet.
Price48,400 euro.
Clasping it to the wrist is a gold President bracelet, created in 1956 for this very model, for which it is still reserved along with a few Datejust models. Unmistakable, with its construction of three semicircular links, it features an invisible fastening system that guarantees perfect visual continuity between the bracelet itself and the case. Ceramic inserts inside the links make it smoother on the wrist and increase its durability. It is equipped with an invisible Crownclasp, which enhances functionality and aesthetics.
A new generation movement equips the Day-Date from 2015
Calibre 3255: an automatic movement entirely developed and produced by Rolex.
The movement is the calibre 3255, with Rolex's patented Chronergy escapement, made of a nickel-phosphorus alloy insensitive to magnetic fields. The movement also includes an optimised version of the blue Parachrom hairspring, produced by the brand in an exclusive paramagnetic alloy, which makes it up to ten times more accurate than a traditional hairspring, even in the event of a shock. Thanks to the architecture of the barrel and the superior performance of its escapement, the calibre boasts a power reserve of around 70 hours.
