1965 Rolex Day-Date Ref. 1807 ‘Bark’ Bezel

The History

The Rolex Day-Date, colloquially known as the President, is to many the definition of a luxury watch. It has stood as a status symbol, a fashion statement, and a treasured heirloom since the introduction of the line in 1956. As such, they can be seen on the wrist of everybody from Hollywood stars to captains of industry and everybody in between trying to emulate their favorite icons. The President moniker was established over the years and is sometimes falsely attributed to a watch that Rolex gifted to President Eisenhower in 1951, but that watch was in fact a Datejust model. The first sitting US President to wear a Rolex Day-Date was Lyndon Johnson. The President moniker further gained steam by Rolex officially naming the bracelet style developed for the watch the President bracelet, and by featuring the Day-Date in a print ad with the headline “The Presidents Watch”.

There are too many great legends and stories surrounding the Day-Date to share here but the one involving JFK and Marilyn Monroe is one of the favorites that we think that you will enjoy. On the date of JFK’s birthday in 1962, the same night that Marilyn Monroe would famously sing the President happy birthday, Monroe presented JFK with a yellow gold Rolex Day-Date with an inscription on the caseback that read ‘JACK — With love as always from MARILYN — MAY 29th 1962’. The story goes that JFK, not wanting to expose his affair, gave the watch to an aid and told him to dispose of it. The watch was not disposed of though and showed up at auction in 2011 with a poem that Monroe included with her gift.

The Reference

The Rolex Day-Date has been in continuous production since it was introduced in 1956 with minor changes being made to the watch’s appearance as well as movement over time. As a result, while all Day-Dates may look the same it is important to pay attention to the details when looking at any watch from the lineup. This particular watch is a reference 1807. The 180X generation of Day-Date’s was the third generation of the watch and was introduced in 1959 and would continue production until 1978. This generation of President watches is defined by their pie-pan dials and non-quickset day and date functions. Further distinguishing this watch from others of the same era is a bark textured bezel and the day function in Spanish. During this time Rolex produced watches in 26 different languages and matching the language to your heritage, a loved one, or a treasured vacation adds to the watch’s lore. This particular watch has a serial in the 1,000,000 range that dates it to 1965.

The Case

The 36mm solid yellow gold case of this watch is in overall excellent condition. Of note a small nick on the lower right lug but otherwise not major defaults to note. The watch wears the correct crown and caseback for the reference and the bark bezel is correct and specific to the 1807 reference. The acrylic crystal is in excellent condition as well.

The Dial and Hands

The silver pie-pan luminous dial is in excellent condition with no major defects to note. The lume dots on the hours are in very good condition and are still full. The lume on the gold hands has started to get dirty though. Being a Day-Date the dial features both a date window and a day indicator both of which are in excellent condition.

The Movement

This watch is powered by a Rolex automatic caliber 1556 non-hacking movement. The watch is running and keeping good time. The service history is unknown.

PHOTO GALLERY