Day-Date
The march of time

Much more than a watch, the Oyster Perpetual Day-Date symbolizes a journey: the fulfilment of an ambition and the celebration of an achievement. Since its creation in 1956, it has defined the benchmark for watches of prestige. A timeless icon, it has made history on the wrists of eminent figures – leaders, virtuosos and maestros – endowing it with a fascinating legacy.

A milestone in the history of watchmaking

The Day-Date is a calendar wristwatch that displays both the date and the day of the week spelt out in full. Ever since its launch, it has been associated with powerful and influential figures, as expressed in the tagline: “Men who guide the destinies of the world wear Rolex watches.” The Day-Date quickly became a universal symbol of prestige and leadership.

1956

1960

The choice of presidents

The Day-Date officially entered the history books on President Lyndon B. Johnson’s wrist when he moved into the White House in 1963. From that moment, the watch began to earn its reputation as the “presidents’ watch”, becoming the accessory of choice for leaders and other influential individuals.

1963

On the wrists of three giants

The Big Three: Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Gary Player. These men left an indelible mark on golf, a discipline that they largely dominated for two decades. All three wore the watch that came to symbolize their status as legends of the sport: the Day-Date.

1967

A 26th language in the repertoire

A new language became available for the day display: Chinese. The number of languages available for the Day-Date’s dial rose to 26, including Latin, Russian, Arabic, English, French, Italian and German, among others. In an increasingly connected world, the Day-Date continued to reach new territories.

Exclusive dials

In the 1970s, Rolex began introducing a series of carefully selected natural stone dials, including lapis lazuli, malachite, tiger’s eye, onyx, coral, and turquoise. Each dial presents subtle variations inherent to the stone, making every piece truly unique and impossible to replicate.

1973

A new calibre for presidents

Calibre 3155 replaced calibre 3055. This self-winding movement included a double quickset function for both the date and the day of the week.

1988

An icon in film

British actor Michael Caine had already worn the Day-Date in several films during the 1970s. However, it was in the 1980s that the watch’s film career really took off, appearing on the wrist of Tom Cruise in Rain Man in 1988. It was later worn by Dennis Quaid, Alec Baldwin, Brad Pitt, among others, and by Denzel Washington in Spike Lee’s He Got Game in 1998. By securing its place in Hollywood history, the Day-Date has affirmed its status as an enduring icon.

1998

Larger case, optimized movement

With the launch of the Day-Date II, Rolex introduced the 41 mm case. Accompanying this evolution was a new movement: calibre 3156. This calibre featured the latest technical advances of the Rolex manufacture, including the Parachrom hairspring and Paraflex shock absorbers.

2008

Lindsey Vonn, Rolex Testimonee

One of the greatest alpine ski racers, Lindsey Vonn suffered a bad fall at the 2013 World Cup. During her convalescence, she was given an 18 kt yellow gold Day‑Date with a gem-set bezel which came to symbolize her tenacity. The following season, she returned to the highest level.

I wear it as a reminder to never give up. It shows me that I can do anything I set my mind to. Even though I’ve achieved a lot in the past, I know I have so much more to accomplish in the future.

Lindsey Vonn

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2013

A reinvented Superlative Chronometer

Introduced in 2015, the Day-Date 40 was one of the first models to receive the Superlative Chronometer certification under strengthened criteria. Thanks to its new calibre 3255, its precision exceeded the standards of the COSC and its power reserve was increased to approximately 70 hours. Its energy efficiency was further enhanced thanks to the integration of the Chronergy escapement.

2015

Martin Scorsese, Rolex Testimonee

Martin Scorsese, one of the greatest directors of modern cinema and a leading figure of New Hollywood, wears a Day‑Date. In 2017, he officially became a Testimonee when Rolex partnered with the film industry’s most esteemed institution: the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.