Calendar complication
What is a day-date watch?
A watch that shows the day of the week as well as the date, usually in windows at 3 o'clock or across the top of the dial.
How it works
A day-date adds a second disc to the ordinary date mechanism, printed with the days of the week and advanced once every 24 hours. On most watches the day and date sit side by side at 3 o'clock; on the Rolex Day-Date the day is spelled out in an arc at 12.
Many day wheels carry the days in two languages; you choose which shows by advancing the day through a full extra cycle.
History
Rolex introduced the Day-Date in 1956, the first wristwatch to spell out the day of the week in full. Seiko and Citizen made day-date displays standard on affordable watches from the 1960s, and the Seiko 5's day-date at 3 became one of the most familiar layouts in the world.
Before you buy
Day-date displays are common and cheap, from under $100. Like any date watch, don't change the date between about 9 p.m. and 3 a.m., when the change mechanism is engaged.
Day-date watches we've measured
- Hamilton Khaki Aviation Pilot Day Date Auto 42mm H64635140
42 mm case · 51 mm lug-to-lug · $1,125
- Rolex Day-Date 36 128238
36 mm case · — lug-to-lug · $49,100
- Rolex Day-Date 40 228238
40 mm case · 47 mm lug-to-lug · $50,400
Questions
- Can I change the date at any time?
- Not on most mechanical watches. Avoid the hours around midnight, when the date wheel is already being moved, or you can damage the mechanism.