Over the course of its long production run, the Day-Date has seen numerous creative executions. Case in point: this lovely ref. 1811 with uncommon ‘moiré’ finish.

The Day-Date is, of course, best known for its shiny fluted bezel. But many more bezel variations were made, especially in the famed 18xx series from the 1960s and 1970s. The ref. 1811 is one of the more uncommon variants. This watch sports a so-called moiré (also known as morellis) finish on the bezel as well as on the center link of the iconic President bracelet.

The pie-pan dial (named so because it resembles an upside-down pie-pan) is executed in a lovely silvered color which gives a beautiful contrast to its yellow gold case. This ref. 1811 was produced in 1969 and is still in a great condition, especially considering the fact that it's over 50 years old already. Many Day-Dates from this period that feature special finishes like bark, florentine, and moiré, tend to have lost their lustre due to over polishing.

The 36 mm yellow-gold case on this watch is still thick and, more importantly, the moiré finish on the bezel and the bracelet are deep and crisp. The accompanying yellow-gold President bracelet features some stretch, which is to be expected from a bracelet that is over half a century old. This watch is only produced for a short period of time, making it an excellent choice if you’re in the market for an uncommon Day-Date without having to break the bank tremendously.