Few watch lines are as conducive to an all-gold construction as the Rolex Day-Date is, and the Reference 1803 is one whopper of a model. It’s the variant in which so many of its iconic signatures were cinched, both on the function and the visual fronts. To give you an idea, the 1803 was one of triplets, each featuring a distinct bezel: The 1804 was diamond-clad, the 1806 had a linen pattern (a red-headed stepchild of sorts), and the 1803 had the fluted bezel. It’s what brought this watch to the wrists of power players in every realm, including presidents, MLK Jr., and even the Dalai Lama.
It runs on the 27-jewel Calibre 3055, built to essentially block out temperature’s effects. Other charmingly vintage qualities include its versatile 36mm case and tritium-powered glow, a short-lived moment in watch lume history, that allowed the dial to patinate lushly and makes it a unique piece overall.
Price: $12,995
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