About the Watch

The Day-Date was initially intended to be a useful tool for daily use. It provided its wearer with a comprehensive personal calendar thanks to a watchmaking achievement that was unheard of at the time: the Day-Date was the first water-resistant wristwatch chronometer with automatic winding that showed the date and the written day of the week in two separate viewing windows. At midnight, the date and day of the week both change simultaneously. Nearly seven decades after its inception, people are still fascinated by this groundbreaking feature. On the wrists of pioneers, virtuosos, and visionaries, it has witnessed the most significant historical moments since 1956.  People who make every day a promise for a better future. Its unique design contributes to its identity and high recognition value. At its launch, the Day-Date was the only wristwatch to display the written-out day of the week in a semicircular viewing window at the 12 o'clock position. Combined with the President strap, which was developed especially for this watch and is only available in precious metals - gold or platinum - the Day-Date embodies the prestigious wristwatch par excellence.

About the Brand

Known the world over, Rolex is a benchmark for prestige and quality in watchmaking. Since its creation, the brand has placed the reliability of its products uppermost. It submits virtually its entire movement production for testing by the Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres to obtain COSC certification. Rolex is also renowned for its after-sales service which is performed by staff who have been specially trained, often in Rolex's own schools in countries around the globe, including the United States and Japan. Rolex was founded by Hans Wilsdorf. A Bavarian watchmaker who emigrated to Switzerland, he immediately put his natural flair for products and business acumen at the service of a brand that would soon forge an international reputation. He was succeeded in 1963 by André Heiniger, whose son Patrick took over at the helm in 1992. Bruno Meier in 2009 then Gian Riccardo Marini in 2011 were successively appointed at the head of the business, a limited company (société anonyme) that is wholly owned by the Hans Wilsdorf Foundation. In 2014, Jean-Frédéric Dufour, previously Chief Executive of Zenith, was named as the new CEO. Such a reputation hasn't gone unnoticed among collectors, as recent auction results demonstrate. At a 2013 sale in Geneva, for example, a Daytona Chronograph in steel achieved an absolute record price of US$ 1.1 million. The brand hones its image through associations with prominent and well-respected personalities chosen from the arts and sports. Also, in 1976 Rolex launched its Awards for Enterprise which each year single out innovative projects that promote sustainable development. The Rolex Mentor and Protégé Arts Initiative gives young artists a privileged opportunity to benefit from the experience of masters in their field.