Things You Didn't Know About the Rolex Day-Date

　　Every watch has a story behind it, a production process, and, of course, some little-known facts. Today, we will introduce some trivia about theRolexDay-Date.

　　I. Adapting to the Changing Times

　　After 1977,Rolexthe cases of Day-Date watches gradually entered their "thickest" period, and dials began to feature many semi-precious stone decorations, which became a hot topic for collectors and enthusiasts. After 1988, Day-Date watches equipped with the Cal.3135 movement appeared; these were the last products in this Rolex series to feature lug holes. After 2000, the lugs were mirror-polished, and the traditional arc between the lugs was removed. From then on, Rolex Day-Date watches began to feature new models with "11" serial numbers, and the bracelet clasp was redesigned, gradually replacing the style that had been in use for nearly half a century. In 2008, the new Day-Date II was introduced, with the case diameter increasing from the standard 36 mm to 41 mm. A third size, other than the 39 mm, was also launched as a special commemorative model, numbered Ref.218000, and equipped with the Cal.3156 movement, which features a new shock-absorption system.

　　II.RolexThe first watch with a day-date display was not the Day-Date model

　　Rolex released the first Day-Date watch in 1956, numbered Ref.6511. This model displays the day of the week in a long window at the 12 o'clock position on the dial, while the date is displayed at the 3 o'clock position.

　　Prior to this,Rolexthey had actually decided to abandon the production of complicated watches, and their earliest watch featuring a day-date function was a moonphase timepiece.

　　RolexThe earliest Day-Date reference was Ref.6511, which was replaced a year later by the new Ref.6611. The 6611 utilised Rolex's latest 1055 movement at the time, equipped with a free-sprung balance and screw micro-adjustment. This also allowed early Rolex watches to maintain an advantage in accuracy, and starting from the very first Day-Date watch, the dial was inscribed with the words "Superlative Chronometer Officially Certified".

　　III. Functions from none to some, performance from weak to strong

　　Early Day-Date watches did not feature a hacking seconds function; this feature was only added in 1972Rolexto this series of watches. Hacking seconds ensured that the wearer could temporarily halt the second hand when setting the time, allowing for much more convenient and precise time adjustment.

　　Another change for the Day-Date watch was the use of a sapphire crystal. Also in the nineteen-sixties, sapphire crystals began to be widely used in watches. This material for the crystal is not only less prone to scratching but also fits the case better than traditional acrylic crystals, providing better water resistance. Early Day-Date watches were water-resistant to one hundred sixty-five 165 feet (fifty 50 metres), while current Day-Date watches are all water-resistant to three hundred thirty 330 feet (one hundred 100 metres).