Short answer
A fake Rolex 1803 President is a counterfeit of the Rolex Day-Date ref. 1803. The genuine 1803 is a 36 mm watch in 18k gold that Rolex built from 1959 into the late 1970s. Copies sold online for a few hundred dollars use plated steel or brass, a low-cost movement, and dial print that does not match the original. Selling one as a Rolex violates US law.
The reference 1803 at a glance
Rolex released the Day-Date line in 1956. Ref. 1803 arrived in 1959 and stayed in the catalog about two decades. Specs:
- Case: 36 mm, 18k yellow, white, or rose gold
- Bracelet: President, three semi-circular links per row, hidden clasp
- Movement: caliber 1555 or 1556, about 26 jewels, 18,000 vph
- Crystal: acrylic
- Display: full day at 12 o'clock, date at 3 o'clock
- Date setting: no quickset. The date advances with the hands.
Early examples use a pie-pan dial. Flat dials appear later. Dials carry the SWISS or T SWISS T mark under 6 o'clock. Tritium lume is common on older examples and changes color with age.
Where copies fail
- Metal: plated steel or brass, not 18k gold. A genuine caseback shows a 750 stamp and a Rolex hallmark.
- Weight: gold cases and bracelets are heavy. Plated copies feel light in the hand.
- Dial print: font, spacing, and serif shapes differ from Rolex work. The day wheel on copies looks flat or plastic.
- Movement: Asian 21-jewel or quartz units. The real 1556 beats 5 times per second.
- Crystal: mineral glass or sapphire in place of acrylic.
- Bracelet: stamped links, hollow end pieces, and loose fit between links.
- Case shape: thick lugs and a crown that sits high against the case.
Legal status in the US
Trafficking in counterfeit goods is a federal crime under 18 U.S.C. § 2320. Prison terms and fines apply. Civil claims fall under the Lanham Act, which lets a trademark owner recover damages and, in some cases, statutory damages. US Customs and Border Protection can seize and destroy counterfeit imports under 19 U.S.C. § 1526. A label such as replica does not remove liability when the Rolex name or crown appears on the watch.
How to check one
- Weigh the watch and compare against a known gold example.
- Have a jeweler test the case and bracelet with an XRF machine.
- Open the caseback. Confirm the caliber number, bridge finish, and engraving.
- Compare dial fonts and marker shapes against documented 1803 examples.
- Inspect the bracelet for hallmarks and the clasp stamp.
Rolex and its authorized service centers do not service counterfeit watches.
Open points
No published data covers how many fake 1803 watches exist. Prices for genuine examples depend on metal, dial type, and condition, so no single figure applies to the whole market.