Launched in 1956, the Rolex President Day-Date remains the brand’s signature status watch. Known as the choice watch of presidents, leaders, and diplomats, the Day-Date is still a popular symbol of success today; and its fans now include celebrities and even the younger set.
If you’re in the market for a Day-Date, you’ll be in good company. Here are the most iconic men to wear the Rolex President Day-Date.
U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson
Many U.S. Presidents have worn the Rolex Day-Date, including Presidents Nixon, Ford, Reagan, and current President Trump. However, it was Lyndon B. Johnson who wore it most prominently and truly established the connection between the Day-Date and the Oval Office.
He was the first U.S. President to wear the Day-Date while in office, and even gifted the watch to colleagues. It was also during his term that Rolex first released the famous Day-Date ad with the line “The presidents’ watch”. Photo “LBJColor” by Office of the President, Public Domain
Michael Jordan
“His Royal Airness” Michael Jordan is arguably the greatest basketball player in history, winning six championships with the Chicago Bulls and helping popularize NBA worldwide in the 1980s. The retired athlete currently owns the Charlotte Hornets of the NBA.
Michael has been wearing Rolex since the beginning of his career. In the early 90s, he used to wear “Rolex MasterPiece” watches, which are basically Rolex Day-Dates with a special bracelet. These days, he wears a Platinum Rolex Day-Date.
The Day-Date has also been used to establish a character’s success and power in TV and film. In the well-loved series “The Sopranos”, the late James Gandolfini played Tony Soprano, the boss of New Jersey’s most powerful crime organization.
The mob boss wore an 18k yellow gold, champagne dial Rolex President Day-Date throughout the show’s six seasons. Video from The Sopranos HD on YouTube
Jack Nicklaus
Legandary golfer Jack Nicklaus is still the most accomplished golfer of all time, winning 18 major championships (three more than second-placed Tiger Woods). Today, the retired golf great heads one of the largest golf course design companies.
Jack has two yellow gold Rolex Day-Date watches – a black dial with Roman numerals and a champagne dial with baton markers. The latter was worn every day by Nicklaus and was eventually auctioned off by Phillips in December 2019. It sold for $1.2 million. Photo Golfer w:Jack Nicklaus fields questions from Mayport-area sailors by United States Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Joe Dye, Public Domain
The Dalai Lama
While watches, particularly the Rolex Day-Date, are thought of as status symbols, the Dalai Lama collects them simply for his love of mechanical timepieces.
Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama, has two yellow gold Rolex Day-Date watches — one with a blue baton dial and another with a lapis lazuli dial. He often goes out of his way to make sure they’re not too ostentatious, wearing them with inexpensive straps instead of the President bracelet. Photo “Dalai Lama”, by Christopher Michel, licensed under CC BY 2.0
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