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Rolex President: A Status Symbol
The Rolex Day-Date is also known as the "Rolex President." This is mainly because of the watch's popularity among presidents, business tycoons, and other influential public figures. The model has become the ultimate status symbol.
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Chrono24
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The Watch of the Rich and Powerful
Rolex fans are very creative when it comes to giving the Swiss manufacturer's creations nicknames, and the Oyster Perpetual Day-Date is no exception. This model is often referred to as the "Rolex President" or "Rolex Presidential."
Since its introduction back in 1956, the Rolex Day-Date has been the go-to watch for the rich and famous. From world leaders, Hollywood stars, and everything in between, the Rolex President is the gold standard for expressing power and prestige.
The Day-Date didn't achieve this level of fame on luck alone. Rolexexclusively manufactures the watch in gold or platinum and its simple, sophisticated design means the watch can easily transition from casual downtime to upscale events. What's more, the dial, with the date displayed at 3 o'clock and the day of the week written out in full, is iconic in the watch world. The Rolex Day-Date was, after all, the first wristwatch to offer this feature.
Rolex also gave the Day-Date its very own three-piece link President bracelet.
Overview of the Rolex "President" Day-Date
- Diameter: 36, 40, or 41 mm
- Material: Platinum, yellow gold, white gold, or rose gold
- Bezel: Fluted, polished, or with diamonds
- Bracelet: President bracelet, occasionally leather straps
- Movement: Automatic Rolex calibers
- Water resistance: 100 m (10 bar, 328 ft)
- Prices on Chrono24: Between 8,000 and 145,000 USD.
The President Bracelet on the Rolex Day-Date
When Rolex introduced the Day-Date in 1956, the luxury watch manufacturer also presented a specially-designed bracelet. The President bracelet, as it is officially known, is one of the most distinctive features of the Day-Date and is considered one of Rolex's most comfortable bracelets.
The bracelet has a three-link assembly, with each individual link taking a hemispherical shape. The outer links are usually satin-brushed, while the middle links tend to be polished. In some cases, the middle links are even set with diamonds.
The "invisible" Crownclasp folding clasp is another feature found on the President bracelet. The clasp is perfectly integrated into the bracelet's structure, with only a small Rolex crown revealing its location.
The Rolex President on Famous Wrists
Contrary to what the watch's name might suggest, relatively few copies of the Rolex President can be found in the White House. The first US President to wear a Day-Date was Lyndon B. Johnson, who was a huge fan of the watch and was known to gift the gold timepiece to friends and associates.
Dwight D. Eisenhower is often mistakenly associated with the Rolex President, and while he was often spotted wearing a gold Rolex, it was in fact a Rolex Datejust.
Although John F. Kennedy never wore a Rolex President, he too had a connection to the watch. Marilyn Monroe gave him one for his 45th birthday – with the engraving "JACK With love as always from MARILYN May 29th 1962." Fearing that their affair might be discovered, JFK instructed an employee to get rid of the watch. The Rolex didn't fall into complete obscurity, however, and was auctioned in 2005 for just under 120,000 USD.
On the other side of the Iron Curtain, Cuban revolutionary Fidel Castro had also taken a liking to the Rolex President. Funnily enough, he often wore the watch at the same time as his Rolex Submariner, even on the same arm. Some speculate that one watch showed the time in Havana, and the other the time in Moscow. Another theory is that Castro was superstitious and considered the watches a kind of good-luck charm.
The last US president to be seen sporting a Rolex Day-Date was Donald Trump.
Rolex President: Musicians, Athletes, and Hollywood Stars
Alongside politicians, the Rolex Day-Date has also found favor among many Hollywood celebrities, top athletes, and musicians. Actors Brad Pitt, Russell Crowe, Brooke Shields, Eddie Murphy, and Martin Scorsese all have a Rolex President in their collection.
Musicians with a soft spot for the Rolex President include John Mayer, Elton John, and Bono. The watch also enjoys great popularity in hip-hop circles, as demonstrated by Jay-Z, Tupac Shakur, Kanye West, Nicki Minaj, Meek Mill, and Luther Campbell from the 2 Live Crew.
As for athletes, Roger Federer, Conor McGregor, and Tom Brady all own a Rolex President.
Overview of Celebrities With a Rolex President
- Lyndon B. Johnson, 36th president of the United States
- Fidel Castro, former prime minister of Cuba
- Donald Trump, 45th president of the United States
- Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama
- Pope John Paul II, former head of the Catholic Church
- Warren Buffett, US-American investor and businessman
- Jay-Z, musician and producer
- Elton John, musician
- Roger Federer, tennis player
- Conor McGregor, MMA star
- Brad Pitt, actor
- Pelé, Brazilian footballer
- Bono, musician
- Eddie Murphy, actor
- Brooke Shields, actress
- Russell Crowe, actor
- Tupac Shakur, musician
- Drake, musician
- Kanye West, musician
- Nicki Minaj, musician
- Meek Mill, musician
- Martin Scorsese, director and creative producer