Timepieces: Chronometer in Chief
August 1, 2008
At the 1956 Basel Fair in Switzerland, Rolex introduced the first wristwatch to display the name of the day spelled out. That same year, Dwight D. Eisenhower won his second term as America’s commander-in-chief, and Rolex reportedly offered their congratulations by presenting him with the groundbreaking Day-Date. In return, Eisenhower (and many other heads of state) conferred on the timepiece its "President" nickname. Thirteen election cycles later, Rolex’s Day-Date once again had presidential hopefuls taking notice at the Baselworld 2008 jewelry show. Dubbed the Day-Date II, the new watch retains its signature day display at twelve o’clock, but places it in a fresh range of dials atop a new movement. Available only in precious metals—platinum ($51,050), yellow gold ($27,650), white gold ($30,200), and Everose gold ($30,200)—the Day-Date II features Rolex’s innovative caliber 3156 movement, which utilizes small springs to ensure a steady balance wheel, and an alloy hairspring that is unaffected by magnetic fields—and up to 10 times more resistant to shocks than a standard hairspring. The COSC-certified Day-Date II has a Super-President bracelet and Rolex’s patented Crownclasp, a 48-hour power reserve, and is waterproof to 330 feet. Of particular note within the Day-Date II portfolio are the Everose (made from a proprietary pink gold and platinum that remains pink forever) and the platinum, which sports a domed, rather than fluted, bezel and is available with either a matte black dial with Arabic numerals (pictured above) or an ice-blue dial with Roman numerals.
Rolex, 800.367.6539, www.rolex.com
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