{"product_id":"rolex-day-date-stella-dial-as02468","title":"Rolex Day-Date Stella Dial","description":"\u003cp\u003eBack in 2013, Rolex released a new crop of Day-Date with some unique features. For the first time, the Day-Date was sold on a leather strap. But that wasn’t what got collectors excited.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhat stood out the most were the dials: bright, vibrant, and completely out-of-character for Rolex. Or was it?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn fact, it wasn’t.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn the 1970s, Rolex took the Day-Date—the refined, elegant, presidential Day-Date—and equipped it with eye-popping dials in a veritable kaleidoscope of colors. Think blue like the waters off St. Tropez, green as bright as mint leaves, or shocking pink that would make even Elsa Schiaparelli blush. This was achieved using layers of lacquered enamel, a material beloved by the watch industry, but known for its brittle fragility.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOriginally intended for the Middle Eastern market, these watches—in all their psychedelic glory—stood out from Rolex’s more staid offerings. However, sales weren’t robust enough to justify making them a staple in the Crown’s collection. So they, like many 1970s fashions (bell-bottoms, shag carpets, avocado green curtains…), were discontinued, and faded from the consumer consciousness.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThat is until a few years ago, when examples started appearing on the market again. Now, collectors became fascinated with these most un-Rolex of Rolexes. Far from being dated, they were fresh, unique, and incredibly fascinating.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThey became known as “Stella” dials, either from the Latin \u003cem\u003estella\u003c\/em\u003e for star or for the colors’ similarity to the palette of American artist, Frank Stella.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe “Stella dial” Day-Date we offer here is a Reference 1803 from the late 1970s. Its dial is an absolute stunner: a warm oxblood that calls to mind rich, Cordovan leather. A previous owner chose to echo that stunning color by fitting the watch to a custom Burgundy leather Camille Fournet strap.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBeyond being merely visually arresting, with a sharp case and gorgeous lume, this watch is a veritable time capsule. It comes complete with wallet, calendar, paperwork, hangtag, and punched papers that indicate that the watch was sold in Dubai in 1976. All of this is enclosed in a leather box that is as gorgeous as the watch is.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rolex","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":7493577572382,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0809\/1255\/products\/Rolex_Day_Date_1803_Oxblood_BP_AS02468_1.jpg?v=1518821289","url":"https:\/\/www.analogshift.com\/products\/rolex-day-date-stella-dial-as02468","provider":"Analog:Shift","version":"1.0","type":"link"}