The Rolex Day-Date made its debut in 1956. It was the first waterproof and self-winding chronometer wristwatch to offer a modern calendar with an instantaneous day display, which was spelt out in full in a window on the dial, in addition to the date, making it renowned for its exceptional precision, reliability and legibility. This display relies on disc mechanisms; the day and date change simultaneously and instantaneously. At the time this was a piece of remarkable engineering. This required a dual-disc mechanism that changed both displays simultaneously and instantaneously. Unlike every other Rolex model, the Day-Date has only ever been made in precious metals, 18ct yellow, white or Everose gold, or 950 platinum. It’s never been made in steel – this is the President’s watch.
The indication of the day of the week is available in a choice of 26 languages from Arabic, Mandarin to English and the watch is also equipped with a mechanism allowing rapid adjustment of the day and the date using the winding crown. The original 1956 models came on a Jubilee bracelet, but Rolex quickly introduced what would become the watch’s most iconic feature: the President bracelet, a three-link design with semi-circular links that remains exclusive to the Day-Date to this day. It is one of the most recognisable bracelets in watchmaking history — and the source of the watch’s most famous nickname.
Often known as the “Presidents’ watch” because it has indeed been worn by many of the world’s political figures, directors and visionaries, the Day-Date is pertinently recognisable with its emblematic President bracelet. The story of the Day-Date’s presidential association begins with John F. Kennedy, who received a yellow gold example as a gift in 1962 — with a now-legendary inscription on the caseback. Kennedy never wore it publicly, but its story became one of the most famous Rolex anecdotes of all time. That’s because it was given to him by Marilyn Monroe for his birthday it stated “Jack, with love as always, from Marilyn, May 29th 1962.”
It was Lyndon B. Johnson who truly cemented the Day-Date’s relationship with the White House, becoming the first sitting president to wear one openly and proudly. Johnson was rarely photographed without it, and Rolex was quick to capitalise — running advertisements with the tagline “Men who guide the destinies of the world wear Rolex watches.” The watch earned its nickname and never looked back.
The list of presidential wearers that followed reads like a roll call of American power: Ronald Reagan, Richard Nixon, and Bill Clinton all wore the Day-Date. Donald Trump has long been associated with the model — his Rolex Day-Date features prominently in our guide to his watch collection, alongside the Patek Philippe and Vacheron Constantin pieces that round out one of the most surprising collections in modern politics.
Beyond the White House, the Day-Date became the watch of choice for sporting legends including Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, and Gary Player — the defining figures of a golden era of golf who all wore it as a symbol of their status. In Hollywood, Tom Cruise wore a Day-Date in Rain Man in 1988, with Brad Pitt, Alec Baldwin, and Denzel Washington among those who followed. Now, the Oyster Perpetual Day-Date 36 with a turquoise dial, diamond-set bezel and a President bracelet adds further prestige to an pre-existing status watch, which has been worn by world leaders.
The dial features hour markers in 18 ct gold, set with 32 diamonds, and a Roman VI and IX in 18 ct gold, set with 24 diamonds. Notably it boasts a distinctive face with a turquoise dial. Every Rolex is manufactured in-house to ensure its perfection.
The epitome of Rolex technology, the watch has 14 patents to ensure ease of use and reliability.
Nearly seventy years after its introduction, the Rolex Day-Date has lost none of its power. It remains the only watch that has been worn by presidents, given by one of the twentieth century’s most iconic women to one of its most iconic men, and photographed on the wrists of everyone from world leaders to Oscar winners. Indeed Rolex even sponsors the green room there. Worn by Presidents, the Rolex is history, weight and power.
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