Admin: Create researched reference article for Rolex 15003

2026-10-20T18:20:54Z

Create researched reference article for Rolex 15003

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{{DISPLAYTITLE:Rolex Oyster Perpetual Date 15003}}
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|title=Rolex Oyster Perpetual Date 15003: Dials, Bezels and Chevrolet Casebacks | Rolexopedia
|description=Documented 15003 examples from the 1980s show steel-and-gold cases, Cal. 3035, several bracelet and bezel configurations, and Chevrolet caseback emblems.
|keywords=Rolex 15003, Oyster Perpetual Date, calibre 3035, Chevrolet caseback, two-tone Rolex
|image=Ref 15003 hero.webp
|image_alt=Two-tone Rolex Oyster Perpetual Date reference 15003 with silver dial and Jubilee bracelet
|type=article
|og_type=article
|robots=index,follow,max-image-preview:large
}}

<small>[[Reference:oyster-perpetual|Oyster Perpetual]] → '''15003'''</small>

<div class="rp-lead">[[File:Ref 15003 hero.webp|thumb|center|640px|alt=Two-tone Rolex Oyster Perpetual Date reference 15003 with silver dial and Jubilee bracelet|A circa-1984 ref. 15003 catalogued by Christie's in 2019.]]</div>

The 15003 is a 34 mm, steel-and-gold Oyster Perpetual Date powered by Cal. 3035. Auction records place examples in the early-to-mid 1980s and document more than one bezel and bracelet configuration. Several lots report a Chevrolet caseback emblem; Christie's and Farber may have catalogued the same 1984 watch.

==Core facts==

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Detail !! Documented specification
|-
| Reference || 15003
|-
| Model || Oyster Perpetual Date
|-
| Case || 34 mm, stainless steel and gold in the auction records
|-
| Movement || Automatic Cal. 3035, as identified by the catalogues
|-
| Date || Date aperture with magnifier
|-
| Example dates || Circa 1983, 1984 and 1985–86
|-
| Documented dials || Silver, silvered, and white with Roman numerals
|-
| Documented bracelets || Steel or two-tone Oyster; two-tone Jubilee
|}

== Where it sits in the line ==

The 15003 is a steel-and-gold version of the Oyster Perpetual Date. Catalogued examples date from about 1983 to 1986. These lots anchor the reference in that period; the production start and end remain undated.

== Production outline ==

Noonans dates case 8,110,949 to circa 1983. Christie's dates its watch circa 1984 and includes a Rolex U.S.A. warranty filled in November 1986. Heritage catalogues a 1985 example with case 8,288,898. Farber gives a serial beginning 818 and dates its watch to 1984. The records place the 15003 in use by the early 1980s, though they do not form a complete production sequence.

== Movement notes ==

The auction catalogues identify Cal. 3035 in 15003 examples. Christie's set shows the watch, caseback, and warranty; the third image is a document rather than a movement view. Cal. 3035 has a quick-set date; see the [[Reference:Movements#cal-3035|movement guide]].

== Dial map ==

The catalogues describe silver, silvered, and white dials. Noonans specifies Roman numerals, while Heritage describes gold baton markers. Christie's calls its watch “Date Chevron” in the title, but its details field describes the dial simply as silvered. The catalogue leaves the meaning of “Chevron” unclear.

== Case, bezel, crystal, and crown ==

The lots document at least two bezel treatments. Heritage describes a fluted gold bezel on its 1985 example; the Christie's photograph shows a smooth, rounded bezel on its circa-1984 watch. The examples establish separate configurations, while their catalogue dates leave the order of introduction open. Heritage identifies sapphire crystal on its lot. Noonans records a screw-down back and crown. The reviewed material gives no reference-wide crystal specification or water-resistance rating.

== Bracelets, end links, clasps, and packaging ==

Catalogued watches carry steel Oyster, two-tone Oyster, and two-tone Jubilee bracelets. The Christie's photograph shows a stamp that appears to read 474 on an end link. Each is a watch-specific configuration; original delivery requires evidence tied to that watch. The end-link stamp identifies the bracelet component, not the watch's production date.

Noonans lists a presentation case and two spare links. Christie's records no box and includes the Rolex warranty shown below. These are lot-specific accessory records; a standard 15003 package has not been identified.

== Chevrolet casebacks ==

Christie's and Farber both report a Chevrolet emblem on a 34 mm two-tone 15003 dated circa 1984, with a Jubilee bracelet. Farber gives a serial beginning 818; Christie's omits its serial. Their catalogues and photographs are similar enough that the two sales may concern one watch. Heritage records a Chevrolet emblem on case 8,288,898, a separately numbered example dated circa 1985.

The Christie's warranty carries Chevrolet-Pontiac Canada Group stamps. Christie's documents a separate Diamond Jubilee Chevrolet award watch as Datejust ref. 16018, with a Chevrolet-logo dial and an explicit award engraving on its caseback. The 15003 records describe a logo but no award wording. In the Christie's 15003 photograph, the engraving is not legible.

<gallery mode="packed" heights="180">
File:Ref_15003_detail.webp|Christie's caseback and bracelet view; its condition report records a Chevrolet emblem.
File:Ref_15003_detail_2.webp|Rolex U.S.A. warranty dated November 1986 with Chevrolet-Pontiac Canada Group stamps.
</gallery>

== Auction record ==

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Example date / sale !! Catalogue !! Recorded details
|-
| Circa 1983 / 13 June 2023 || [https://www.noonans.co.uk/archive/past-catalogues/681/catalogue/457378/?offset=440 Noonans, lot 441] || Case 8,110,949; 34 mm; steel and gold; Cal. 3035; white Roman dial; steel Oyster bracelet; presentation case and two spare links.
|-
| Circa 1984 / 11 February 2019 || [https://onlineonly.christies.com/s/christies-watches-online-keystone-collection/rolex-two-tone-date-chevron-ref-15003-187/73507 Christie's, lot 187] || 34 mm; steel and gold; silvered dial; Cal. 3035; two-tone Jubilee bracelet; Chevrolet caseback emblem reported in the condition report; warranty dated November 1986.
|-
| Circa 1984 / 10 August 2023 || [https://www.bidsquare.com/online-auctions/farber-auctioneers-and-appraisers/rolex-date-two-tone-automatic-watch-15003-5189707 Farber, lot 614] || 34 mm; steel and 18K yellow gold; serial beginning 818; Chevrolet caseback emblem. May be the same watch as Christie's 2019 lot 187; the serials cannot be compared.
|-
| Circa 1985 / 18 November 2011 || [https://jewelry.ha.com/itm/timepieces/rolex-ref-15003-two-tone-gent-s-oyster-perpetual-date-circa-1985/a/5081-60267.s Heritage, lot 60267] || Case 8,288,898; 34 mm; fluted gold bezel; silver dial with gold batons; Cal. 3035; sapphire crystal; 62523 steel-and-gold Jubilee bracelet; Chevrolet caseback emblem.
|-
| Circa 1986 / 26 October 2023 || [https://hibid.com/lot/171412850/18kt-steel-rolex-gents-oyster-perpetual-date Vintage Auctions, lot 10] || 34 mm; steel-and-18K-gold case and Oyster bracelet; silver dial; Cal. 3035.
|}

== Gallery ==

<gallery mode="packed" heights="180">
File:Ref_15003_hero.webp|Christie's circa-1984 ref. 15003, front view.
File:Ref_15003_detail.webp|Christie's caseback and bracelet view.
File:Ref_15003_detail_2.webp|Warranty included with the Christie's lot, dated November 1986.
</gallery>

== Sources ==

* [https://onlineonly.christies.com/s/christies-watches-online-keystone-collection/rolex-two-tone-date-chevron-ref-15003-187/73507 Christie's, "Christie's, Watches Online: Keystone Collection, 11 February 2019, lot 187 — Rolex ref. 15003", Christie's, 2019-02-11]
* [https://www.noonans.co.uk/archive/past-catalogues/681/catalogue/457378/?offset=440 Noonans, "Noonans, Jewellery, Watches, Silver and Objects of Vertu, 13 June 2023, lot 441 — Rolex ref. 15003", Noonans, 2023-06-13]
* [https://hibid.com/lot/171412850/18kt-steel-rolex-gents-oyster-perpetual-date Vintage Auctions, "Vintage Auctions, 26 October 2023, lot 10 — Rolex ref. 15003", Vintage Auctions via HiBid, 2023-10-26]
* [https://www.bidsquare.com/online-auctions/farber-auctioneers-and-appraisers/rolex-date-two-tone-automatic-watch-15003-5189707 Farber Auctioneers and Appraisers, "Farber Auctioneers, via Bidsquare, August Jewels and Timepieces, 10 August 2023, lot 614 — Rolex ref. 15003", Farber Auctioneers and Appraisers / Bidsquare, 2023-08-10]
* [https://jewelry.ha.com/itm/timepieces/rolex-ref-15003-two-tone-gent-s-oyster-perpetual-date-circa-1985/a/5081-60267.s Heritage Auctions, "Heritage Auctions, Timepieces Signature Auction, 18 November 2011, lot 60267 — Rolex ref. 15003", Heritage Auctions, 2011-11-18]
* [https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-6460408 Christie's, "Christie's, Important Watches, Datejust ref. 16018 Diamond Jubilee Chevrolet, case 9'590'157", Christie's]

[[Category:Oyster-Perpetual]]

Reference:15003 - Revision history

Admin: Create researched reference article for Rolex 15003