President Clasp vs Datejust Clasp

[brockburst]

Looking at a vintage 1803 day date or a vintage datejust. I know on vintage datejust clasps you have the micro pin adjustment possible by sliding the holster up or down in the folding clasp itself. I have never handled a vintage presidential bracelet but given the clasp is hidden, is there any sort of mechanism to slightly adjust the size without needing to move/add links?

[miamiclay]

The hidden clasp Presidents do not have micro adjustment, but most 1803s are on the older style President bracelet, which does have it in the buckle.

[brockburst]

Interesting, never seen that - anyone have a pic of what that looks like?

Or are you saying they have non hidden clasp systems on older 1803 bracelets?

[miamiclay]

Like this -
.

[miamiclay]

I am curious to know 1) when Rolex started offering the hidden clasp President bracelet, and 2) when they stopped offering this regular, non-hidden clasp type. Iirc, both types were available for quite a long stretch - Like 8 or 10 years, maybe.

I think the hidden President clasp was introduced during the 1803s (i.e., before 1978), but I think both types continued to be available on DDs into the 18038s (after 1977). However, I’m not at all certain this is correct.

[ronricks]

Originally Posted by miamiclay

I am curious to know 1) when Rolex started offering the hidden clasp President bracelet, and 2) when they stopped offering this regular, non-hidden clasp type. Iirc, both types were available for quite a long stretch - Like 8 or 10 years, maybe.

I think the hidden President clasp was introduced during the 1803s (i.e., before 1978), but I think both types continued to be available on DDs into the 18038s (after 1977). However, I’m not at all certain this is correct.

I want to say the hidden clasp on 1803 showed up around 1971ish.

You could still get the non hidden clasp all the way well into the 18238 production years. It was the 7286 President bracelet instead of the 8385 president bracelet.

[miamiclay]

Originally Posted by ronricks

I want to say the hidden clasp on 1803 showed up around 1971ish.

You could still get the non hidden clasp all the way well into the 18238 production years. It was the 7286 President bracelet instead of the 8385 president bracelet.

Wow!

If that’s so, they were both offered as new DD options for roughly 20 years - I thought there was a long overlap, but yikes ... 20 years!

Thanks!

[Slimpee]

The hidden clasp on the 1803 President does not have adjustment. The links are relatively small but adding or removing links is the only way to adjust it.

Make sure you try on the watch and/or make sure it has enough screw-in links to get the fit right.

[aniconic]

Thanks to all who contributed to this thread. It answered my question!

I've been looking for a YG DD for a while, and haven't quite found the right one (condition, dial, etc.). But I was puzzled by two very similar watches I found, one with a hidden clasp and one without, yet the serial numbers (the first 2 digits at any rate) were identical. I'd wondered if something dodgy was going on, but now I know.

[Incroyable12]

The hidden clasp bracelet was sold at a premium during the early years.

[foxytimes]

Amazing! Fantastic information. Thanks to everyone.

It seems to be impossible to establish a clear chronological classification of canonical combinations of bracelets, dials, bezels. But thanks to this swarm intelligence we might have a successive approximation.

[The Tempest]

Great info, going to look into to mine, thank you.

[zapokee]

I have a hidden-clasp WG 1803. It's a pain in the A with temperature changes and body fat variations. No adjustment at all. Always either too loose or too tight.

Do yourself a favor and get the adjustable clasp with the pins.

[rootbeer7]

Originally Posted by zapokee

I have a hidden-clasp WG 1803. It's a pain in the A with temperature changes and body fat variations. No adjustment at all. Always either too loose or too tight.

Do yourself a favor and get the adjustable clasp with the pins.

Or a nato strap

[carwashchris]

Good read ! I want to add my experience. I bought a RG 1803 with the old style clasp. The bracelet was a little worn and I have a smaller wrist, even adjusted to the smallest setting it was loose for me.

The only option was having my AD drilling through one of the links, removing it. Which worked well for me but I ruined a RG link and $300. In process.

Chris

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