Continuity (Day-Date) und Change (S-class dashboards)

[Prof. Rolex]

Dear Rolex-Fans,
following please find a little journey through the times from the 50ies until today showing the evolution of the Mercedes S-class dashboards and the Rolex Day-Date. You can see, that the dashboards of the S-class has changed completely through the years, but the Rolex Day-Date shows continuity.

The 50ies:

Mercedes W180 (Ponton):

(Source: mirbach.de)

Speedometer in lying position with a hand moving horizontally.

Rolex 6611:

(Source: vetroplastica.it)

The Day-Date in their first version with Dauphine-hands.


The 60ies:

Mercedes W111 (Fintail):

(Source: mirbach.de)

Vertical speedometer with vertical moving band (the notorious “clinical thermometer”), Band up to 50 km/h yellow, between 50 and 100 km/h yellow/red striped, over 100 km/h red.

Mercedes W 108:

(Source: mirbach.de)

Round instruments in “pinstripe-look”.

Rolex 1803:

(Quelle: Hannes, RLX-Gallery)

The Day-Date now features new hands and a new caliber.


The 70ies:

Mercedes W116:

(Source: mirbach.de)

The introduction of the “Orange Hands”, which were used in Mercedes dashboards for nearly 30 years (in contradiction to Rolex).

Die Day-Date 1803 remains unchanged.


The 80ies:

Mercedes W 126:

(Source: mirbach.de)

The „Orange Hands“ are now located under a common crystal.

Rolex 18038 (following my own 18038):


The Day-Date is now equipped with a sapphire crystal and a new caliber, which allows the quickset of the date (but not of the day).


The 90ies Jahre:

Mercedes W 140:

(Source: mb-w140.de)

The number of „Orange Hands” and also the size of the s-class herself reaches their maximum.

Rolex 18239:

(Quelle: RLX-Galery, the watch is equipped with a dial of a later reference)

The Day-Date now features also the quickset of the day, but remains unchanged on the outside.


The beginning of the new century:

Mercedes W 220:

(Source: benzworld.org)

Electronics becomes more and more important, which now can also be seen on the dashboard.

Rolex 118206:

(Source: RLX-Gallery)

The Day-Date gets a new case with polished lugs and a slightly domed sapphire crystal, the caliber remains unchanged.


Today:

Mercedes W221:

(Source: mercedes.de)

Dashboard with completely electronic instruments. Interestingly in conjunction with the optional „Nightvision“ a speedometer with a band can be seen again 40 years after the “Fintail”.

The Day-Date 1182xx remains unchanged……..

Best Regards
Matthias

[Hannes]

Aaah. Finally also available in english.

Great post. Thanks, Matthias

[NicoH]

Now that´s a great comparison - thanks Matthias, very interesting!

Your 18038 looks gorgeous, too

[Did666]

Great post !
I love the class 'S' and Day date...

[WUM]

interesting post, thx

but old styl's are way cooler


greets


Wum

[slimshady]

Many thanks - I do prefer the 80ies !!