Rolex Day-Date 1804

Ref. 1804, repeated inside casebackAn extremely rare and highly important platinum wristwatch with center seconds, day, date, diamond-set indexes and bezel, black glossy bespoken “M. Kubo” non-luminous dial and bracelet

Manufacturer: Rolex Year: Circa 1961 Reference No: 1804, repeated inside caseback Movement No: DD97’198 Case No: 741'102 Model Name: Day-Date Material: Platinum Calibre: Automatic, cal. 1555, 25 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Platinum Rolex President bracelet, max length 200mm Clasp/Buckle: Platinum Rolex deployant clasp stamped “2, 62” Dimensions: 36mm diameter Signed: Case, dial, movement, bracelet and clasp signed Condition Report Sign Up or Login Description View our Conditions of Sale . Manufacturer : Rolex Year : Circa 1961 Reference No : 1804, repeated inside caseback Movement No : DD97’198 Case No : 741'102 Model Name : Day-Date Material : Platinum Calibre : Automatic, cal. 1555, 25 jewels Bracelet/Strap : Platinum Rolex President bracelet, max length 200mm Clasp/Buckle : Platinum Rolex deployant clasp stamped “2, 62” Dimensions : 36mm diameter Signed : Case, dial, movement, bracelet and clasp signed Catalogue Essay The Rolex Day-Date collection introduced in 1956 has long been regarded as the epitome of elegance and luxury. Known as their flagship collection, the Day-Date has exclusively been offered in precious metals, with only a few stainless steel prototype exceptions. Among the precious metal variants, those crafted in platinum are particularly rare and highly sought after by collectors. A quick glance at the dial of this particular Day-Date reveals that it is an incredibly rare bespoke dial. Rolex was known to personalize dials according to the requests of their most esteemed clients, often adding a company logo or an initial of the discerning collector. The present example is exceptional not only because it is one of the earliest bespoke dials seen on the market dating back to around 1961 but also because it is a non-luminous dial, lacking any luminescent material on the indexes or the unusual Dauphine hands. These extremely rare non-luminous dials produced in the past were mostly directed to the Japanese market. This particular dial is co-signed "M. Kubo" at 6 o'clock, indicating that this watch may have been created as a special request for a highly esteemed private Japanese client. The ref. 1804 belongs to the early 4-digit reference Day-Date series, characterized by the absence of a quickset day or date function. The "4" in the reference number signifies Rolex's use of diamonds on the bezel, making the ref. 1804 the crown jewel among the early Day-Date models. Together with many other precious metal Rolexes, the case of this watch was made by Genex S.A. and is marked with the Geneva Key No.12 on the inner caseback. The remarkable state of preservation is evident, with a crisp Ibex hallmark visible beneath the lug. Adding to its appeal, the watch comes fitted with an exemplary and correct platinum President bracelet, featuring a folding clasp that can be dated to the 2nd quarter of 1962. Read More Artist Biography Rolex Swiss • 1905 Founded in 1905 England by Hans Wilsdorf and Alfred Davis as Wilsdorf & Davis, it soon became known as the Rolex Watch Company in 1915, moving its headquarters to Geneva in 1919. Like no other company, the success of the wristwatch can be attributed to many of Rolex's innovations that made them one of the most respected and well-known of all luxury brands. These innovations include their famous "Oyster" case — the world's first water resistant and dustproof watch case, invented in 1926 — and their "Perpetual" — the first reliable self-winding movement for wristwatches launched in 1933. They would form the foundation for Rolex's Datejust and Day-Date, respectively introduced in 1945 and 1956, but also importantly for their sports watches, such as the Explorer, Submariner and GMT-Master launched in the mid-1950s. One of its most famous models is the Cosmograph Daytona. Launched in 1963, these chronographs are without any doubt amongst the most iconic and coveted of all collectible wristwatches. Other key collectible models include their most complicated vintage watches, including references 8171 and 6062 with triple calendar and moon phase, "Jean Claude Killy" triple date chronograph models and the Submariner, including early "big-crown" models and military-issued variants. View More Works Ref. 1804, repeated inside caseback An extremely rare and highly important platinum wristwatch with center seconds, day, date, diamond-set indexes and bezel, black glossy bespoken “M. Kubo” non-luminous dial and bracelet