There are watches that have an aura that leaves no doubt that they are thoroughly noble, sinfully expensive and downright iconic luxury watches. The Rolex Day-Date is definitely one of them. It is not for nothing that this watch bears the meaningful nickname of Rolex President. In this post, we'll dive into the history of the "Presidential Watch" and take a close look at what makes such a Day-Date wristwatch so charming.
Meaning and prestige of the name "Presidential"
What does a watch need to become known as a presidential watch? Well, besides the first-class quality that is usual for Rolex, in the case of the Day-Date, it is probably its design that made it emblematic of a president's watch. The most characteristic element here is the "President Bracelet", a special bracelet designed specifically for the Day-Date. The filigree, classically golden bracelet elegantly clings to the wrist and its three-row structure makes it look extremely decorative.
To a not inconsiderable extent, the Rolex Day-Date owes its fame as a presidential watch to the famous personalities who are said to have owned this very model. Because: remarkably many of the famous Rolex wearers were high-ranking politicians, including presidents. Lyndon B. Johnson, Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Winston Churchill, Franklin D. Roosevelt and John F. Kennedy - they are all said to have taken a liking to this particular model from Rolex in the past. What other watch can make that claim?
The origins of the Day-Date model
The Rolex Day-Date, which remains an integral part of the Swiss watch brand's lineup to this day, was released in 1956 and over the years and decades has become one of the most popular watches ever made by Rolex. How did she manage to do that? It struck a chord with the times. While other manufacturers concentrated on producing watches with a full calendar - or without any calendar function at all - the Rolex President filled a gap in the market with its unusual date display.
Hans Wilsdorf, the founder of Rolex, was concerned with the question of how the complexity of a calendar could be combined with the robustness of a waterproof utility watch. The result was the Day-Date - a watch model in a solid Oyster case that attracts all eyes with its unusual calendar.
Unlike many watches we know today, the Rolex President is not limited to a date display in the form of a small, two-digit field. On the contrary, at the very top of the President's dial, the day of the week is written out in full in a semicircle - a true rarity. To create enough space for this extravagant highlight, the Rolex crown was even moved down a bit, away from its usual positioning.
The classic appearance of the Day-Date
Of course, the date display is far from the only thing worth mentioning about the Rolex President. Even though the eye of the beholder will certainly wander to the unusually placed date at the first moment, numerous other details will arouse the interest of any watch lover at the second glance.
The classic Rolex President has a diameter of 36 millimeters, while the modern Day-Date measures 40 and 41 millimeters in diameter, respectively. For the high-end model, Rolex decided to use precious metals exclusively. Thus, the Day-Dates are available in platinum, white gold and yellow gold, as well as rose gold - the so-called Everose gold. To date, only six President watches exist in precious metals, making them some of Rolex's rarest vintage models.
Meanwhile, the Rolex President is available in quite a few different designs, including models with Roman indices or embedded diamonds. For example, the watches come with blue, mother-of-pearl, gold or white dials, which are framed by the noble bezel in an extremely harmonious way.
While the Rolex watch is optionally available with an Oyster bracelet, the aforementioned President bracelet is considered the hallmark of the President watch. Some connoisseurs are of the opinion that only the President bracelet makes the Day-Date a Presidential Watch.
The Day-Date as a status symbol
As a watch that has been worn by numerous presidents - be it John F. Kennedy, Dwight D. Eisenhower or Lyndon B. Johnson - the Rolex Day-Date naturally has an image as a status symbol of the first order. There is no doubt about it: anyone who shows up in public with these elegant models on their arm has not only a well-filled wallet, but has also demonstrated a sense of style and a good hand in choosing their timepieces.
All versions of the Day-Date, including the Day-Date II, which was replaced by the Day-Date 40 in 2015, are also known as the "Leader's Watch." An epithet that ideally expresses the aura of power, success and strength attached to the watch. Just made for a watch that the most powerful men in the world have chosen.
Technical characteristics of the Rolex Presidential
As you would expect from Rolex, the Presidential watch can of course shine not only with its external features, but also with its internal values. At the heart of the wristwatch today ticks a caliber 3255, a powerful Rolex movement that ensures the highest precision. With 70 hours of power reserve and a daily rate deviation of only about two seconds, the caliber, which has been in use since 2015, impresses with absolute reliability.
The vintage models of the President Watch originally had the automatic movement 1055, which made the introduction of the much-mentioned weekday disc possible. This was replaced by the optimized caliber 1055 B as early as 1957 and finally, about 15 years later, by the caliber 1556 with balance stop. Another innovation had to wait until 1983: at that time, the caliber 2135 was introduced, featuring a semi-drawn crown for easier calendar correction.
So, by the time it reached its current heart, the caliber 3255, the Rolex President had already come quite a long way. The remarkable thing is that none of the innovations ever really had a negative effect on the reputation of the uniquely fascinating Rolex watch. Beginning with the very first, original model, the story of the groundbreaking success of watches with President bracelet continues uninterrupted to this day.
The Rolex Presidential in pop culture
There's no denying Rolex's tremendous influence on pop culture: Worn by presidents, TV heroes, and superstars, Rolex watches have become ingrained in people's minds over time as a symbol of wealth, success, and elegance. In the process, the company has managed to establish its name across generations as a representative of wealth and luxury.
As a pop culture phenomenon, one of the things that makes Rolex stand out is the numerous, affectionate nicknames for watches that are familiar to watch fans around the world. The Rolex President is just one example, in whose place could just as easily be the GMT-Master 6542 ("Pussy Galore"), the Daytona 6239 ("Paul Newman"), or the Submariner 16610LV ("Kermit").
The choice of the Rolex Presidential
If you want to get the icon from the house of Rolex in your own collection, it goes without saying that this should not be done rashly in view of the high price level. Rather, it is advisable to take enough time in advance to inform yourself about the different model variants of the Rolex Day-Date.
Tips and considerations when buying a Day-Date watch
It is common knowledge that buying a Rolex watch through a retailer can involve waiting times. The reason: demand for popular models far exceeds supply. In the case of the Rolex President, however, the estimated waiting time is kept within quite pleasantly narrow limits. On average, you wait 18 months for a Day-Date 40, and with a little luck, you'll have the 36-millimeter version in your hands after an average of 9 months.
If you want to save yourself the trouble of waiting completely, you can buy it on the secondary market. Here, the Rolex President is immediately available, but is usually offered above list price. Especially when buying on the secondary market, it is important to check the authenticity of the watch and to inform yourself exactly about the condition of the respective specimen and its data. Because: Fraudsters are everywhere, and the watch trade is by no means an exception.
Popular variations and models
Judging by demand, the Day-Date 40 enjoys particularly high popularity, while the 36 is somewhat less in demand. Many men prefer the President in yellow gold or platinum, while the ladies are often particularly enthusiastic about a model in white or rose gold. Ultimately, when choosing a Rolex President, it is not least personal taste that decides which model it should be.
Conclusion on the Rolex Presidential
Introduced as a true innovation, the Rolex Day-Date with Presidential bracelet took the market by storm and remains one of the most popular and well-known Rolex models of all time. No wonder: a watch that has made it to the wrists of quite a few high-ranking politicians up to numerous presidents over the course of time does not easily fall into oblivion again. Thus, the Rolex President has long been a model for the ages, not only because of its special band or extravagant date, but also because of its prominent, influential wearers.