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1031

Rolex

Ref. 18296

Day-Date

A very fine and rare platinum and diamond-set wristwatch with center seconds, day, date, purple sunburst dial, diamond-set indexes, bracelet and guarantee

Estimate
HK$200,000 - 360,000
€23,800 - 42,800
$25,600 - 46,200
HK$378,000
Lot Details
Manufacturer
Rolex
Year
Circa 1995
Reference No
18296
Movement No
7’069’622
Case No
W006’859
Model Name
Day-Date
Material
Platinum
Calibre
Automatic, cal. 3155, 31 jewels
Bracelet/Strap
Platinum Rolex President bracelet, max length 175mm
Clasp/Buckle
Platinum Rolex concealed folding clasp
Dimensions
36mm diameter
Signed
Case, dial, movement, bracelet and clasp signed
Accessories
Accompanied by an undated Rolex guarantee stamped Chung Mei Watch Co. and hang tags.
Catalogue Essay
While it is important to reflect on the prestigious heritage of the Rolex Day-date and its importance it has embezzled over the decades from royalty to state figures, the Day-Date is perhaps more than just that. A symbol of elegance, precision timekeeping and timeless design, the Day-Date was really the first of its kind when it was first introduced in the 1950s. Since then, the model has come to fruition with various upgrades it has undergone over its generations, whilst maintaining its flare by an array of colours, material and design it has to offer.

Cased in hefty platinum and with its lugs decorated with brilliant-cut diamonds is the present Rolex Day-Date ref. 18296 a rare bird in the family of Day-Dates. Fitted with a smooth bezel, it frames a rare and exotic lavender purple sunburst dial further charmed with diamond-set indexes. Offered in excellent overall condition, the present example boasts an unpolished case with sharp and crisp edges. For collectors who appreciate a subtle bit of bling combined with timeless design and rarity, this is certainly an outstanding addition to any collection of fine Day-Dates.

Rolex

Swiss | 1905
Founded in 1905 England by Hans Wilsdorf and Alfred Davis as Wilsdorf & Davis, it soon became known as the Rolex Watch Company in 1915, moving its headquarters to Geneva in 1919. Like no other company, the success of the wristwatch can be attributed to many of Rolex's innovations that made them one of the most respected and well-known of all luxury brands. These innovations include their famous "Oyster" case — the world's first water resistant and dustproof watch case, invented in 1926 — and their "Perpetual" — the first reliable self-winding movement for wristwatches launched in 1933. They would form the foundation for Rolex's Datejust and Day-Date, respectively introduced in 1945 and 1956, but also importantly for their sports watches, such as the Explorer, Submariner and GMT-Master launched in the mid-1950s.One of its most famous models is the Cosmograph Daytona. Launched in 1963, these chronographs are without any doubt amongst the most iconic and coveted of all collectible wristwatches. Other key collectible models include their most complicated vintage watches, including references 8171 and 6062 with triple calendar and moon phase, "Jean Claude Killy" triple date chronograph models and the Submariner, including early "big-crown" models and military-issued variants.
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