Head-to-Head Comparison

Updated September 5, 2026

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

Rolex's timepiece meets Tissot's dress watch

Quick Verdict

The Tissot Gentleman Powermatic 80 Silicium ($500–$1,000) delivers ETA-Based Automatic with Silicon Hairspring technology in the tier below the Rolex Day-Date 1803 (18k white gold, diamond dial, President, about 1970) ($10,000–$25,000). The Gentleman Powermatic 80 Silicium measures 40mm and is rated 100m (10 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 TissotGentleman Powermatic 80 Silicium$500–$1,000 Check price

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Rolex

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

$10,000–$25,000

Check Price Full Review

Tissot

Gentleman Powermatic 80 Silicium

$500–$1,000

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Specifications Compared

Feature	Rolex Day-Date 1803 (18k white gold, diamond dial, President, about 1970)	Tissot Gentleman Powermatic 80 Silicium
Price	$10,000–$25,000	$500–$1,000
Case Size	36mm	40mm
Movement	Automatic; Rolex calibre 1556 for the 1803 (the listing says 3055 with quickset, which is the later 18039; ask)	Powermatic 80.811 (Silicon Hairspring)
Caliber Type	Rolex, chronometer certified	ETA-Based Automatic with Silicon Hairspring
Power Reserve	About 42 hours	80 Hours
Water Resistance	50m (5 ATM) per Rolex for the period	100m (10 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 (Swatch Group)

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 Gentleman Powermatic 80 Silicium offers Stainless Steel construction at 40mm 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 Powermatic 80.811 (Silicon Hairspring)

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 Gentleman Powermatic 80 Silicium uses the Powermatic 80.811 (Silicon Hairspring) (ETA-Based Automatic with Silicon Hairspring, 80 Hours reserve) at 21,600 vph (3 Hz). The Gentleman Powermatic 80 Silicium offers a longer power reserve.

📏

Wearability & Fit

Edge: Rolex

36mm vs 40mm — 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 Gentleman Powermatic 80 Silicium at 40mm. Water resistance differs: 50m (5 ATM) per Rolex for the period vs 100m (10 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 Gentleman Powermatic 80 Silicium 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 Gentleman Powermatic 80 Silicium. Service intervals are typically 5-7 years for both.

💧

Water Resistance

Edge: Tissot

50m (5 ATM) per Rolex for the period vs 100m (10 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 Gentleman Powermatic 80 Silicium handles 100m (10 ATM). The Gentleman Powermatic 80 Silicium offers superior water resistance.

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

Gentleman Powermatic 80 Silicium

Choose the Tissot Gentleman Powermatic 80 Silicium if you value ETA-Based Automatic with Silicon Hairspring technology, Swiss Made (Swatch Group) heritage, and 40mm proportions. At $500–$1,000, the Powermatic 80.811 (Silicon Hairspring) 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 Gentleman Powermatic 80 Silicium represent two distinct approaches to fine watchmaking — the Rolex bringing Swiss Made tradition while Tissot delivers Swiss Made (Swatch Group) engineering.

Frequently Asked Questions

For water, the Tissot Gentleman Powermatic 80 Silicium is rated 100 m against 50 m, which is the difference between swimming and diving on one side and splashes on the other. On price, the Tissot Gentleman Powermatic 80 Silicium 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 Gentleman Powermatic 80 Silicium 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 Gentleman Powermatic 80 Silicium at 40mm with 100m (10 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 Gentleman Powermatic 80 Silicium 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.