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    Rolex Day-Date lug width

    Watch line42 references

    Lug widths across the line

    The Rolex Day-Date takes a 20 mm strap: all 30 references with a known width use 20 mm.

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    42 Rolex Day-Date references

    FAQ

    What lug width does the Rolex Day-Date use?

    The Rolex Day-Date takes a 20 mm strap: all 30 references with a known width use 20 mm.

    What case sizes has the Day-Date come in?

    36mm from 1956, the 41mm Day-Date II from 2008 to 2015, then the Day-Date 40 from 2015. The 36mm runs alongside the 40mm.

    Do older and newer 36mm Day-Dates share the same lugs?

    Not exactly: the 118000 series of 2000 was the first significant change to the Day-Date case, widening the lugs while keeping the 36mm diameter.

    What clasp does the President bracelet use?

    A hidden clasp. Since 2000 it is the Crownclasp, a hidden clasp that is nearly invisible within the bracelet's links.

    Can I put a strap on an Oysterquartz Day-Date?

    The ref. 19018 was designed around an integrated bracelet with an angular case, so it does not take a standard strap the way the classic Day-Date does.

    Is the Day-Date made in steel?

    No. Rolex offers it exclusively in precious metals; six steel ref. 6611 watches were made only as prizes for Geneva watchmaking students.

    The story of the Rolex Day-Date

    In 1956 no watch had ever spelled out the day of the week beside the date. Then Lyndon B. Johnson wore a gold one in a 1965 photo of his surgery scar, and Rolex started calling it "The President's Watch".

    26Languages for the day disc since 1973 (it started with 11)
    12 of 18Majors Jack Nicklaus won wearing his ref. 1803
    $840,000Gamal Nasser's ref. 1803, Sotheby's New York, 2024
    70 hoursPower reserve of calibre 3255

    Chapters

    1. 2015 to today
      Day-Date 40 and calibre 3255

      At Basel 2015 Rolex cut the large model to 40mm and gave it calibre 3255 with Chronergy escapement and about 70 hours of reserve. The 36mm continues alongside, still only in precious metals.

    2. 2008 to 2015
      Day-Date II goes to 41mm

      For Rolex's 100th birthday the 41mm Day-Date II joined the 36mm model in 2008. References 218238 and 218235 had a seven-year run.

    3. 2000 to 2008
      Wider lugs, Crownclasp

      The 118000 series of 2000 brought the first significant changes to the case, widening the lugs. The President bracelet gained solid links and the hidden Crownclasp.

    4. 1978 to 2000
      Sapphire, quickset and quartz

      Ref. 18038 opened the five-digit era in 1978 with calibre 3055, a quick-set date and a sapphire crystal. Calibre 3155 then let day and date be set independently. Alongside, the quartz Oysterquartz Day-Date 19018 had an angular case and integrated bracelet, and stayed in the catalogue until 2001.

    5. 1960 to 1978
      Ref. 1803 and the President

      Ref. 1803 kept the 36mm gold case and fluted bezel and rode on the hidden-clasp President bracelet, three rounded links wide. Presidents Eisenhower, Johnson and Nixon wore 1800-series watches, which fixed the 'President' nickname.

    6. 1956 to 1959
      The day, spelled out

      Rolex unveiled the Day-Date in 1956 with references 6510 and 6511, adding a full day name at 12 to the date at 3. Ref. 6611 followed about a year later with a chronometer movement. The first references came only in gold.

    Worn by

    Lyndon B. JohnsonHistory1965

    His best-known watch was an 18K yellow gold Day-Date on the President bracelet, prominent in a 1965 photo of his surgery scar.

    Richard M. NixonHistory

    Sotheby's lists him among presidents who wore 1800-series Day-Dates.

    Jack NicklausSport1967

    Rolex gave him a yellow gold ref. 1803 in 1967, his first watch, worn for 12 of his 18 major wins.

    Chris EvertSport

    Named by Sotheby's among athletes who wore the Day-Date.

    Andy WarholCulture

    Named by Sotheby's among artists who wore the Day-Date.

    Gamal Abdel NasserHistory

    Owned and wore a ref. 1803; it sold at Sotheby's New York in 2024 for $840,000.

    Moments

    1966. A 1966 Rolex advertisement called the Day-Date "The President's Watch", the year after Johnson's scar photo.

    1970s. Oil money made the gold Day-Date so common among wealthy Texans that it was dubbed the 'Texas Timex'; by the mid-1980s Texas sold more Rolex watches than any other US state.

    2024. Sotheby's New York sold the ref. 1803 owned and worn by Egyptian President Gamal Nasser for $840,000.

    2022. Sotheby's set the auction record for a Day-Date with a ref. 18059 'Rainbow Khanjar', pavé diamond dial and gemstone markers.

    1962. A gold Rolex engraved "Jack, With love as always from Marilyn, May 29th 1962" sold for $120,000 at Alexander Autographs. Kennedy reportedly told an aide to get rid of it.

    Generations and strap changes

    1. 2008
      Ref. 218238 Day-Date II

      Introduced for Rolex's 100th birthday, retired in 2015.

      Case size changed to 41mm.

    2. 2000
      Ref. 118238

      Six-digit series with a Rolex engraving on the rehaut.

      Lugs widened for the first time; President bracelet with solid links and Crownclasp.

    3. 1960
      Ref. 1803

      The long-running 36mm reference, made circa 1960 to 1978, with calibres 1555 then 1556. Its 'pie-pan' dial edge distinguishes it from later flat dials.

      36mm gold case on the hidden-clasp President bracelet.

    4. 1957
      Ref. 6611

      Replaced the first pair after about a year, with a chronometer-certified movement stated on the dial.

    5. 1956
      Refs. 6510 and 6511

      The first Day-Dates, domed bezel (6510) and fluted bezel (6511), in gold only.

    About Rolex

    Founded in 1905 in London, United Kingdom.

    Ambassadors include Roger Federer, Tiger Woods, Mark Webber The Rolex story

    Help

    What is lug width?

    The gap between the two lugs that hold the strap, in millimetres. A new strap must match it exactly: 20 mm lugs take a 20 mm strap.

    Measure it in 30 seconds

    1. Take the strap off, or look at the back of it: many straps print their width.
    2. Measure the inside gap between the lugs with a caliper or a millimetre ruler.
    3. Round to the nearest whole millimetre. Most watches use 18, 20 or 22 mm.

    Strap, quick release or system?

    Most watches use spring bars, so any strap of the right width fits. Many smartwatches use their own band system instead, such as Apple Watch bands or Garmin QuickFit.