Grey Ghost Dial 1803 Rolex Day-Date, Pink Gold

This looks like your average common or garden 1803 Day-Date at a glance, but it really isn’t. First, it’s in pink gold. No one knows exactly the fraction, but we know pink gold was but a fraction of overall production (something like 1 in every 100 examples or less). Pink was a slow seller, so much so that it was discontinued in the five-digit model. Even more notably, look at this dial. You don’t see dark grey dials in Day-Dates often, full stop. But, you never see them with pink or rose gold print. That’s what we have here. I’m sure there are more than this out there, but I’m aware of five (here are two of them). It’s on that kind of level. And yet, it looks like any other 1803 if you didn’t know or catch the details . . .that’s just vintage Rolex at its best.

It should be noted and commended that Rolex nearly always took the time to match the metal used on the dial elements to the case. But the ink print, well that’s often just black on many pink gold 1803 dials. That’s half of what makes these so appealing, but then there’s just grey. Dark Grey (often labelled Anthracite or Slate) dial Day-Dates are something everyone thinks they see all the time but they almost never do. It just seems so normal today, but wasn’t in 1971 which the one offered today dates to (left, right is gone).

The first time I became aware of this dial was when Johnson found one just last year, which was a real ‘WTF’ moment for many of us. A few have traded since then, but you have to love this pair with their Eastern Arabic discs. They are surreal and very attractive if you study the details, like the pink T SWISS T and seconds hand. How much should you care? Well, none have gone to auction that I’m aware of. Values are about on par with the more attainable stone dials. But that’s almost academic, this will likely sell quickly and who knows how many more exist out there. Gentlemen didn’t prefer pink gold in the 1803 years (’58-78). That’s why it was discontinued in the next model. Shame, I find the grey/pink contrast indescribable and almost a bit Journe in palette. If people like the contrast of black on yellow, this is just a lighter alternative with the same magic. I just wish there were more of these to study.

This example is in super strong condition on the dial, a bit less so on the case but not bad. The dial is even, unblemished, and sun-worn. The discs have faded to a parchment tone which is lovely. The case has definitely seen a polishing wheel, which is too bad, but the lugs are still strong enough. It comes from a well-regarded Dubai retailer.