The Day-Date was the first wristwatch to spell out the day of the week in full, and it was only ever sold in precious metal. The 'President' nickname comes from the bracelet Rolex designed for it, reinforced by decades of association with heads of state.
Reference record
Production
1959–1977
Model
Day-Date 36
Case material
18ct Yellow Gold or Platinum
Case size
36mm
Movement
Automatic
Calibre
Cal. 1555
Bezel
Yellow Gold · Smooth
Dial colours
Silver / White, Brown / Champagne, Black
Market value band
$14k – $28k
Notable
—Rolex has never made a steel Day-Date. Any steel example is not a factory configuration.
What the specification implies
—The Day-Date is precious-metal only by design. Case material is one of the few binary facts about this reference.
Common questions
When was the Rolex 1803 produced?
The 1803 was produced from 1959 to 1977.
What movement does the Rolex 1803 use?
The Rolex 1803 runs the Cal. 1555, an automatic movement.
How do I check a Rolex 1803 with Watch Safe?
Look up the watch's serial number in the Watch Safe registry to see whether a record exists or a theft flag is attached. A registry search identifies records for a specific serial; it does not authenticate the watch. Authentication is performed in person by an independent expert authenticator, and Watch Safe records and publishes the result.