Head-to-Head Comparison

Updated September 5, 2026

Rolex Day-Date 1803 (18k white gold, diamond dial, President, about 1970) vs Tissot Chemin des Tourelles Powermatic 80

Rolex's timepiece meets Tissot's dress watch

Quick Verdict

The Tissot Chemin des Tourelles Powermatic 80 ($500–$1,000) delivers ETA/Tissot Automatic technology in the tier below the Rolex Day-Date 1803 (18k white gold, diamond dial, President, about 1970) ($10,000–$25,000). The Chemin des Tourelles Powermatic 80 measures 42.0mm and is rated 50m (5 ATM). The Day-Date 1803 (18k white gold, diamond dial, President, about 1970) justifies its premium with Swiss Made heritage and Automatic; Rolex calibre 1556 for the 1803 (the listing says 3055 with quickset, which is the later 18039; ask). Both represent excellent choices in the luxury watch category.

RolexDay-Date 1803 (18k white gold, diamond dial, President, about 1970)$10,000–$25,000 Check price View the dossier

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Rolex

Day-Date 1803 (18k white gold, diamond dial, President, about 1970)

$10,000–$25,000

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Tissot

Chemin des Tourelles Powermatic 80

$500–$1,000

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Specifications Compared

Feature	Rolex Day-Date 1803 (18k white gold, diamond dial, President, about 1970)	Tissot Chemin des Tourelles Powermatic 80
Price	$10,000–$25,000	$500–$1,000
Case Size	36mm	42.0mm
Movement	Automatic; Rolex calibre 1556 for the 1803 (the listing says 3055 with quickset, which is the later 18039; ask)	Automatic Powermatic 80 (Caliber 80.111)
Caliber Type	Rolex, chronometer certified	ETA/Tissot Automatic
Power Reserve	About 42 hours	80 Hours
Water Resistance	50m (5 ATM) per Rolex for the period	50m (5 ATM)
Crystal	Acrylic on the 1803 as made (the listing says sapphire; ask)	Sapphire Crystal
Case Material	18k white gold, fluted bezel	Stainless Steel
Origin	Swiss Made	Swiss Made

Category-by-Category Analysis

🎨

Design & Aesthetics

Edge: Draw

Rolex's design language vs Tissot's approach

The Rolex Day-Date 1803 (18k white gold, diamond dial, President, about 1970) features a 18k white gold, fluted bezel case at 36mm with Acrylic on the 1803 as made (the listing says sapphire; ask) protection. The Tissot Chemin des Tourelles Powermatic 80 offers Stainless Steel construction at 42.0mm with Sapphire Crystal. Both represent their brand's distinct design philosophy and heritage.

⚙️

Movement & Performance

Edge: Tissot

Automatic; Rolex calibre 1556 for the 1803 (the listing says 3055 with quickset, which is the later 18039; ask) vs Automatic Powermatic 80 (Caliber 80.111)

The Day-Date 1803 (18k white gold, diamond dial, President, about 1970) runs the Automatic; Rolex calibre 1556 for the 1803 (the listing says 3055 with quickset, which is the later 18039; ask) (Rolex, chronometer certified, About 42 hours power reserve) at standard frequency. The Chemin des Tourelles Powermatic 80 uses the Automatic Powermatic 80 (Caliber 80.111) (ETA/Tissot Automatic, 80 Hours reserve) at 21,600 vph (3 Hz). The Chemin des Tourelles Powermatic 80 offers a longer power reserve.

📏

Wearability & Fit

Edge: Rolex

36mm vs 42.0mm — different wrist presence

At 36mm, the Day-Date 1803 (18k white gold, diamond dial, President, about 1970) wears more compactly on smaller wrists compared to the Chemin des Tourelles Powermatic 80 at 42.0mm. Water resistance differs: 50m (5 ATM) per Rolex for the period vs 50m (5 ATM).

💰

Value & Cost of Ownership

Edge: Tissot

Tissot sits in the lower tier

The Rolex Day-Date 1803 (18k white gold, diamond dial, President, about 1970) sits at $10,000–$25,000 and the Tissot Chemin des Tourelles Powermatic 80 at $500–$1,000. On the specs that outlast any price: the Day-Date 1803 (18k white gold, diamond dial, President, about 1970) uses Acrylic on the 1803 as made (the listing says sapphire; ask) with About 42 hours, against Sapphire Crystal and 80 Hours on the Chemin des Tourelles Powermatic 80. Service intervals are typically 5-7 years for both.

💧

Water Resistance

Edge: Draw

50m (5 ATM) per Rolex for the period vs 50m (5 ATM)

The Day-Date 1803 (18k white gold, diamond dial, President, about 1970) is rated to 50m (5 ATM) per Rolex for the period while the Chemin des Tourelles Powermatic 80 handles 50m (5 ATM). Both offer identical water resistance ratings.

Our Verdict

Rolex

Day-Date 1803 (18k white gold, diamond dial, President, about 1970)

Choose the Rolex Day-Date 1803 (18k white gold, diamond dial, President, about 1970) if you prioritize Rolex, chronometer certified engineering, Swiss Made craftsmanship, and 50m (5 ATM) per Rolex for the period water resistance. At $10,000–$25,000, it delivers Automatic; Rolex calibre 1556 for the 1803 (the listing says 3055 with quickset, which is the later 18039; ask) with About 42 hours power reserve.

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Tissot

Chemin des Tourelles Powermatic 80

Choose the Tissot Chemin des Tourelles Powermatic 80 if you value ETA/Tissot Automatic technology, Swiss Made heritage, and 42.0mm proportions. At $500–$1,000, the Automatic Powermatic 80 (Caliber 80.111) with 80 Hours power reserve makes it a compelling choice.

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The Bottom Line

The Rolex Day-Date 1803 (18k white gold, diamond dial, President, about 1970) and Tissot Chemin des Tourelles Powermatic 80 represent two distinct approaches to fine watchmaking — the Rolex bringing Swiss Made tradition while Tissot delivers Swiss Made engineering.

Frequently Asked Questions

On price, the Tissot Chemin des Tourelles Powermatic 80 sits a band lower ($500–$1,000 against $10,000–$25,000), so it is the cheaper way into the category. Neither is better at everything; the spec table above shows movement, case size, water resistance and crystal side by side so you can weigh what matters to you. We do not test units, so this is the makers' data, not a bench result.

The Tissot Chemin des Tourelles Powermatic 80 offers better upfront value, sitting a tier lower at $500–$1,000. However, the Rolex Day-Date 1803 (18k white gold, diamond dial, President, about 1970) may justify its premium with superior finishing, heritage, or resale value.

Both are suitable for daily wear. The Day-Date 1803 (18k white gold, diamond dial, President, about 1970) at 36mm with 50m (5 ATM) per Rolex for the period water resistance handles everyday situations. The Chemin des Tourelles Powermatic 80 at 42.0mm with 50m (5 ATM) is similarly capable. The Day-Date 1803 (18k white gold, diamond dial, President, about 1970) uses Acrylic on the 1803 as made (the listing says sapphire; ask) while the Chemin des Tourelles Powermatic 80 uses Sapphire Crystal.

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How This Page Was Made

Our comparisons are generated from a hand-maintained specification database and reviewed under our editorial standards. We use AI tools to assemble pages from that data. We don’t invent specs: every number traces back to the database, and when we correct an entry, the fix is applied site-wide. As an Amazon Associate, The Horologist earns from qualifying purchases.