Rolex
Rolex Day-Date 1803
The Rolex Day-Date (reference 1803) is a 36 mm 18 kt Yellow Gold watch. It runs on the automatic caliber 1556. It is no longer in production.
Specifications
Case
- Reference
- 1803
- Collection
- Day-Date
- Case size
- 36 mm
- Case material
- 18 kt Yellow Gold
- Case shape
- Round
- Bracelet / strap
- President
Dial and bezel
- Bezel
- Fluted
Movement
- Movement
- Automatic
- Caliber
- 1556
Production
- Production
- Discontinued
Dial versions
This reference was made with these dials and finishes.
1803 Oxblood
Stella enamel/lacquer dial
1803 Wide Boy
Wide Boy; pie pan; wider applied batons; "Day Date" without hyphen · “Wide Boy”
1803 Wide Boy Sigma
Sigma; pie pan; wide (Fat Boy) indexes; solid gold indexes · “Wide Boy”
1803 Stella
Stella lacquer; gold markers; tritium · “Stella”
1803 Pink
Lacquer; alternating gold and brilliant-cut diamond hour markers · Diamond, dial (hour markers)
How it compares within the Day-Date family
Side by side with other references in the same collection, from the catalog.
| Reference | Size | Material | Dial | Caliber | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1803 (This watch) | 36 mm | 18 kt Yellow Gold | — | 1556 | — |
| 128235 | 36 mm | 18k Everose gold | Chocolate / Sundust / various | 3255 | 2019– |
| 128238 | 36 mm | 18k yellow gold | Champagne / Green / Silver / various | 3255 | 2019– |
| 128239 | 36 mm | 18k white gold | — | 3255 | 2019– |
| 128396TBR | 36 mm | Platinum | — | 3255 | — |
| 228206 | 40 mm | 950 platinum | Ice blue | 3255 | 2015– |
| 228235 | 40 mm | 18k Everose gold | — | 3255 | 2015– |
| 228238 | 40 mm | 18k yellow gold | — | 3255 | 2015– |
| 228239 | 40 mm | 18k white gold | — | 3255 | 2015– |
About the Day-Date family
The Day-Date was introduced in 1956 as the first wristwatch to show the day of the week spelled out in full, in a window at 12 o'clock, alongside the date. It has only ever been made in precious metal, 18k gold or platinum, and is usually worn on the President bracelet created for it.
Generations are told apart by reference and movement: the quickset references of the late 1970s and 1980s, the 18238 and 118238 with caliber 3155, then the Day-Date 40 (for example ref. 228238) from 2015 and the Day-Date 36 (for example ref. 128238) from 2019, both with caliber 3255. Dials range from plain colours to stone, meteorite and diamond-set versions, and the day disc can be in many languages. Dealers check that dial, bezel and bracelet are original to the watch.
Quick answers
- What size is the Rolex Day-Date 1803?
- The Rolex Day-Date 1803 has a 36 mm case.
- What movement does the Rolex Day-Date 1803 use?
- It uses the automatic caliber 1556.
- Is the Rolex Day-Date 1803 still in production?
- Discontinued.
- What is the Rolex Day-Date 1803 made of?
- The case is 18 kt Yellow Gold. Bracelet or strap: President.
- Which dials was the Rolex Day-Date 1803 made with?
- The catalog lists 4 dials: Oxblood, Champagne, Coral, Pink.
Catalog facts checked October 2026.