Signed Rolex, Oyster Perpetual, Day-date, ref. 1803, case no. 3’392’365, circa 1973

In production from 1959 to 1977, reference 1803 can be considered the most classical of all the day-date references: its case strikes the perfect balance between sporty and elegant, and the ribbed bezel has grown to become the bezel collectors think of when imagining a Day-Date. It is the chef d’oeuvre against which all day-date models are weighted.

When such a landmark model comes blessed with one of the most appealing and collectible traits to possibly be found on a Rolex – or any – timepiece: a Khanjar dial, it is obvious we are in front of a watch whose importance cannot be underestimated. The presence of the Arabic calendar discs – a trait which boosts the allure and exotic vibe of the Middle Eastern personalization, and found only on a minority of the Omani timepieces – further amplifies the collectability of the piece.