White House to Your House: Rolex Day-Date “Double Quick Set”

In the beginning, Rolex created the Day-Date. Before the Big Bang, when the Cold War was hot and power brokers’ blood ran ice cold, the Day-Date came to be known as the “President” following rumors that Dwight Eisenhower had worn the debut model. But even if Ike didn’t, everyone from JFK to Ronald Reagan certainly did. In other words, it’s not a watch for the meek, the bashful, or the proletariat. Sorry, Karl.

Rarely offered in anything but precious metals, the Day-Date hits even harder when inset with gems. And this Day-Date Double Quick Set in 18K white gold brings the hardware.

Over time, Rolex wisely retained the iconic look of the watch while refining the substance of the model’s movement and ease-of-use. Before the pictured Day-Date ref. 18239 debuted, these watches were a chore to advance through interminable days and dates in pursuit of the correct sequence; even the 1970s advent of a single quick-set on certain models seemed insufficient on a watch practically designed for Junta leaders and their entourage.

But in 1990, the watch, now known universally as the “President,” received a critical update: the double quick set date. Simply unscrew the Oyster twin lock crown, and the date can be selected quickly by turning the crown clockwise; reverse the direction, and watch the days of the week cycle in the window at 12 o’clock.

Whereas previous models of the President had required users to spin the crown endlessly like a White House press flack in damage control-mode, the 18239’s simple system freed up power brokers’ time for more important matters.  Granted, actual presidents, oligarchs, and generalissimos have people to do this stuff for them, but for the weekend warrior or boardroom brawler, eliminating aggravation is worth its weight in gold.

And this watch brings the goods; the 18-Karat white gold case features an 18K bracelet and bezel to match.

The Day-Date has reigned as the premier Rolex platform for precious metals and precious gems since the day it dropped in 1956. Seen in the metal, this watch is more than a statement; it’s an event in itself.

With Rolex, the beauty of gold is more than skin deep. Rolex remains unique among Swiss watchmakers in its ownership of in-house metallurgy labs and foundries. This unique capability means Rolex makes its own gold to meet the company’s exacting standards, and the benefit on Rolex white gold watches like this Day-Date is colossal.

While white gold from other watchmakers is an alloy of gold and white metal plated with nickel or rhodium to appear white, Rolex white gold is a homogeneous blend that has no plating and will never wear-through. If scratched, it reveals only another layer of white gold. Everyone else’s white gold watches must return to the jeweler for a re-plate.

Here, comfort and style go hand-in-hand. “President” may be this watch’s nickname, but it is Rolex’s official name for the bracelet. The entire assembly is exclusive to precious metal Rolex watches, and it’s easily the Geneva giant’s most becoming bracelet. Center links in polished white gold contrast dramatically with brushed outer links.

On the wrist, the President is supple and secure. Visually, it projects a more muscular image than the delicate beaded strip of the Jubilee, Rolex’s standard dress bracelet. The legendary Crownclasp, another Day-Date signature, hides the unsightly bulk of traditional metal clasps from view. Only a raised Rolex five-point crown marks the point where the clasp parts.

The Day-Date was the watch world’s apex predator from day one. When Rolex launched the original in 1956, it was considered a beast by the standards of the time. Its 36mm case represented the upper limit for contemporary men’s watch dimensions. Mandatory precious metal and a corresponding bracelet meant that Rolex’s new power watch made itself known on the wrist and in the public eye.

This Rolex Day-Date with double quick set calendar functions is available through The 1916 Company.  Among modern Rolex models, the Day-Date has been left comparatively untouched – and for good reason. The charisma, power, and undeniable presence of this watch remain as potent ever. From the White House to your house, this 18K white gold Day-Date remains every inch the power player.