Getting a Vintage Rolex Day-Date

[t0tor0]

I am looking for a vintage day-date. Though I have own several watches, I have no experience in looking out of vintage watches.

What should I look out for when hunting for one? Seems like chrono24 is offer the most selection. Any tips on buying vintage watches online?

Can anyone advise me some good sites to learn more especially relating to Day-Date?

Thanks!!!

[andromeda160]

A vintage DD is probably the only Vintage that has very little interest to me. Not having a quickest day or date feature would drive me mad. 1803 is non qs day or date, 18038 has a quickset date I believe and not day and I believe the 18238 was the first double quickset model but I could be wrong. The search function on the forum here can be your friend. And posting pictures of prospective watches will enable you to gather the opinions of the forum at least.

[Richard Carver]

It might be a good idea to find a trustworthy vintage dealer to guide you in this purchase as there are many things yet to learn for you. A good dealer can save you from expensive mistakes and make your first vintage experience a good one.

[nikanarani]

Originally Posted by Richard Carver

It might be a good idea to find a trustworthy vintage dealer to guide you in this purchase as there are many things yet to learn for you. A good dealer can save you from expensive mistakes and make your first vintage experience a good one.

Never seen that before. Wonderful

[BigBlue1]

I am on the hunt for one as well. I too am looking for a 1803 and am not sure if I won’t a WG model or a YG model.

[Chronocrass]

Originally Posted by Richard Carver

It might be a good idea to find a trustworthy vintage dealer to guide you in this purchase as there are many things yet to learn for you. A good dealer can save you from expensive mistakes and make your first vintage experience a good one.

What a unique and beautiful watch! Would you mind sharing the reference number?

[BigBlue1]

I don't know the reference number and have never seen a Day Date like this with a Moon Phase. But I know that these are I believed labled Moon Phase. Rolex is not the only watch maker to use the Moon Phase

[Richard Carver]

Alas gentlemen tis merely a figment of my fevered imagination and an editing program lo those many years ago.



...but a dream. :)

[BigBlue1]

Originally Posted by Richard Carver

Alas gentlemen tis merely a figment of my fevered imagination and an editing program lo those many years ago.



...but a dream. :)

I was going to say, definitely a custom piece LOL. I wish it was real. I really do love these and remember these from my childhood on the wrists of some gentlemen, Moon Phases that is.

[The moose]

Originally Posted by BigBlue1

I am on the hunt for one as well. I too am looking for a 1803 and am not sure if I won’t a WG model or a YG model.

I have both...the WG 1803 is just one of Rolexes must stunning watches. It's elegant, sophisticated but yet sporty...the YG one is more blingy and noticeable...like em' both but I don't think any DD beats the 1803 in WG with the pie pan dial and plexi...will try to find some pics and post...

[The moose]

Originally Posted by t0tor0

I am looking for a vintage day-date. Though I have own several watches, I have no experience in looking out of vintage watches.

What should I look out for when hunting for one? Seems like chrono24 is offer the most selection. Any tips on buying vintage watches online?

Can anyone advise me some good sites to learn more especially relating to Day-Date?

Thanks!!!

Some info on Day-dates:

https://www.bobswatches.com/watch-re...e-date-history

I would recommend HQMilton for vintage watches...make sure that the case is not over polished, check the stretch of the bracelet, check service history, check that it's not any signs of water damage to the dial, important that the serial and ref numbers are readable...that's just on the top of my mind...other members can fill in...It would be great if the bracelet and dial is original to the watch as well and not service exchanged parts...but not as necessary on this model as on a vintage sport Rolex or Daytona for instance...

[The moose]

WG with silver dial:



WG with matte black dial:

[springer]

Originally Posted by Richard Carver

Alas gentlemen tis merely a figment of my fevered imagination and an editing program lo those many years ago.



...but a dream. :)

Richard...you devil. You hooked them!!!

[Richard Carver]

Originally Posted by springer

Richard...you devil. You hooked them!!!

I've had a lot of fun with that pic the last 16 years. That pic got me thrown out of ThePurist forum! lol

[Woody]

Originally Posted by The moose

WG with silver dial:



WG with matte black dial:

Very nice

[onthedial]

@t0tor0
The vintage Day-date is a classic. I have a 1970 Ref. 1803 in yellow gold. Personally, I find the gold bracelet is too bling-y so I prefer to wear it on a leather strap (Bulang & Sons "Cognac Brown")...the combo is looks effortlessly cool and sophisticated.
Whichever metal you opt for, try to find one with a strong case...one that hasn't been polished to death.
____________
Instagram: @onthedial

[nikanarani]

Originally Posted by Richard Carver

Alas gentlemen tis merely a figment of my fevered imagination and an editing program lo those many years ago.







...but a dream. :)

Got me

[omitohud]

Originally Posted by Richard Carver

I've had a lot of fun with that pic the last 16 years. That pic got me thrown out of ThePurist forum! lol

I really believed you were going to be banned by TRF or at least your post deleted. Lol. Hopefully no one in the future use your picture to tell everyone rolex made moonphase watch.


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[t0tor0]

Is there a wide boy linen dial day date 1803?

[BDL]

Love mine.


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[enginerd]

Originally Posted by andromeda160

A vintage DD is probably the only Vintage that has very little interest to me. Not having a quickest day or date feature would drive me mad. 1803 is non qs day or date, 18038 has a quickset date I believe and not day and I believe the 18238 was the first double quickset model but I could be wrong. The search function on the forum here can be your friend. And posting pictures of prospective watches will enable you to gather the opinions of the forum at least.

I'm with you here. I looked at non-quick and single-quick (date only) models and decided I had to have a double quick.

From 1991, so "vintage" enough for me with the same setting functions as a 2018:

[dbhak22]

OP, the DD isn't for everyone but I think it's an iconic model from our favorite brand, :)

I chose the 1803 (vs. 18038 or 18238) because I love the vintage charm the 1803 has and was willing to sacrifice functionality (ie. quicksets). The 1803 has the pie-pan dial, doesn't have the small roman numeral markings on the minute track and of course the acrylic crystal.

Some things to look out for are primarily polishing and bracelet stretch. For polishing, there is the typical thinning and rounding of lugs but also the fluted bezel. I wanted to make sure I found one that was unpolished so nice and 'sharp' versus 'soft' and rounded flute edges.

That being said, here's mine:

[anirudh.412]

Maybe this is of use to the OP once he does get his DD. But does anyone know where I can get a strap like this for my 1803? Picture courtesy of Hodinkee, but the lining on the back of the strap does not inspire much confidence. However, the shade of brown (reddish tinge) is the EXACT one I am looking for.

[adam78]

Originally Posted by andromeda160

A vintage DD is probably the only Vintage that has very little interest to me. Not having a quickest day or date feature would drive me mad. 1803 is non qs day or date, 18038 has a quickset date I believe and not day and I believe the 18238 was the first double quickset model but I could be wrong. The search function on the forum here can be your friend. And posting pictures of prospective watches will enable you to gather the opinions of the forum at least.

Actually, an 180X-series DD has a semi-quickset date (toggling between midnight and 9 PM changes it). It isn't really a big deal, and is actually quite fun, to set. To get to the correct day, one can either set the hands forward or back, then you set the date. It takes me a couple of minutes at most to set my 1806.

[Willygallardo]

Mint

Originally Posted by dbhak22

OP, the DD isn't for everyone but I think it's an iconic model from our favorite brand, :)

I chose the 1803 (vs. 18038 or 18238) because I love the vintage charm the 1803 has and was willing to sacrifice functionality (ie. quicksets). The 1803 has the pie-pan dial, doesn't have the small roman numeral markings on the minute track and of course the acrylic crystal.

Some things to look out for are primarily polishing and bracelet stretch. For polishing, there is the typical thinning and rounding of lugs but also the fluted bezel. I wanted to make sure I found one that was unpolished so nice and 'sharp' versus 'soft' and rounded flute edges.

That being said, here's mine:

[mineral]

I will recommend the 1803. Love the vintage charm of Rolex




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[1994Tokyosub]

Just turned 50 and would love to treat myself to a 1803 DD from the year of my birth. I'm new to this forum so please forgive me if I'm asking these questions in the wrong manner/place on the forum.

Can someone give me some advice on what the best approach is to find a quality example of an 1803 of circa 1968 vintage?

Also, I'm not sure of the serial number range for Rolex in 1968. I've see different answers depending on the source. The most consistent one seems to be 2.4M - 2.6M. Can anyone confirm this?

Thanks.

[BigBlue1]

1803 is a great watch as long as you don’t mind manually winding it and making up for fallback of seconds. I was very close to purchasing a 1803 DD myself. I ever purchased Arabic Date and Date wheels that I still have. I suggest listening to Daniel AKA dbhak22 as far as over polishing and stretch as that would be a deal breaker for me. Don’t just rush in to purchasing a watch till you do your homework. It is in sorts an investment and an expensive commitment.
Good luck in your search, have fun and I wish you the best.

[swish77]

It's a fabulous reference that looks especially great on a leather/gator strap. That's a good thing, of course, because often you can only find the watch heads because the bracelets often get separated.

As for the OP's original question about how to buy a vintage watch ... homework, homework and more homework, and then buy only from a trusted seller with impeccable references and a good return policy.

I always regret selling my WG '64 1803 several years back.

[BigBlue1]

Originally Posted by swish77

It's a fabulous reference that looks especially great on a leather/gator strap. That's a good thing, of course, because often you can only find the watch heads because the bracelets often get separated.

As for the OP's original question about how to buy a vintage watch ... homework, homework and more homework, and then buy only from a trusted seller with impeccable references and a good return policy.

I always regret selling my WG '64 1803 several years back.

I have to agree the WG is beautiful