The Rolex DayDate is a splendid timepiece that emphasizes an extravagant look sustained by the use of precious materials and brilliant aesthetic details. The beauty of its design is outmatched only by its fame. This model has been the preferred choice of countless politicians, royalties, movie stars, athletes, musicians and businessmen. It is the classic watch that equals distinction, power and success.
Rolex introduced the Oyster Perpetual DayDate in 1956 when it was the world’s first wristwatch that displayed the day and date on the dial. To make this model even more special and iconic, in 1969 the brand created for it a unique bracelet with a concealed clasp and named it the President bracelet. The watch itself has a very suggestive nickname. It is called Rolex President because it is very popular among influential people. Rumour has it that the President name became so popular after Dwight Eisenhower wore the watch for the first time. The interesting thing is that there are people who claim that Eisenhower didn’t actually own a DayDate, but a DateJust. Regardless of this small historical detail, over the years, numerous US presidents and statesmen have worn this brilliant timepiece on their wrist and created its amazing legacy. Some of the most notable personalities that opted for it are Kennedy, Johnson, Ford, Reagan, Nixon and Roosevelt.
The brand accentuates the preciosity and value of the DayDate by creating it exclusively from solid platinum, 18 k yellow, white and red gold. The use of very expensive materials is meant to augment the high-end identity of the watch and to offer to its wearer a certain feel of distinction and luxury.
Because Rolex is the type of brand that is in a continuous search for perfection, in 1972, it added a new feature to its Day-Date collection. The novelty was the technology that enabled the wearer to stop the second hand when the winding crown was unscrewed. This served to improve accuracy while resetting the time. A couple of years later, the watch was improved with the new “Quick Set” feature. This allowed the button to be easily pulled out for adjusting the date without having to rotate the whole crown for several turns.
Besides the quick set and hack feature, the late ‘70s brought to the DayDate another important upgrade- the sapphire crystal which replaced the plastic glass that was used in the previous models. Also, even though the first DayDate models were waterproofed to only 50 meters the brand improved its water resistance to depths of 100 meters. Also, the thickness of the case has decreased offering a slimmer and more elegant look.
In 1988 the company presented the Double-quick set feature for the watch. This helped the timepiece to be set easier by simply pushing the button. Also, the DayDate collection has been enriched over the decades with versions that were decorated with all types of precious stones.
The Rolex Day-Date is one of the timepieces that have starred in the most motion pictures ever. The watch has been worn by Alec Baldwin in “Glengarry Glen Ross”, by Yuri Orlov in “Lord of War”, by Ray Liotta in “Goodfellas”, by Tom Cruise in “Rain Man”, by Sean Penn in “Carlito’s Way”, by James Gandolfini in “The Sopranos”, by Sylvester Stallone in “Rocky II”, and by Steven Seagal in “Marked for death”. And the list goes on with numerous other famous names.
Since its debut, the Day Date watch has been synonymous with style and elegance. It is an iconic timepiece that is known as a prestigious fashion accessory that offers excellence and distinction to its wearer.
