883
Rolex
Ref. 18238
Day-Date
A fine and rare yellow gold wristwatch with center seconds, day, date, “Jurassic” fossil dial, diamond-set indexes, bracelet and guarantee
- Estimate
- HK$120,000 - 200,000€14,300 - 23,800$15,400 - 25,600
HK$302,400
Lot Details
- Manufacturer
- Rolex
- Year
- Circa 1990
- Reference No
- 18238
- Movement No
- 5’457’931
- Case No
- E130’363
- Model Name
- Day-Date
- Material
- 18K yellow gold
- Calibre
- Automatic, cal. 3155, 31 jewels
- Bracelet/Strap
- 18K yellow gold Rolex President bracelet, max length 175mm
- Clasp/Buckle
- 18K yellow gold Rolex concealed folding clasp
- Dimensions
- 36mm diameter
- Signed
- Case, dial, movement, bracelet and clasp signed
- Accessories
- Accompanied by Rolex guarantee stamped Formosa Watch Co, Taiwan dated 10th February 1991 and green card holder.
Specialist
Full-Cataloguing
Catalogue Essay
The present Rolex Day-Date ref. 18238 from circa 1991 features a rare and desirable “Jurassic” fossil dial with diamond-set indexes. Embraced by collectors, the Day-Date ref. 18238 has been well-received by collectors due to the combination of practicality and its aesthetics. Launched in 1988, the reference was the first to incorporate a double quick-set function for its day and date adjustments whilst retaining its classic good looks. Hardstone dials from Rolex wristwatches have always been a fan favourite due to its uniqueness in every single example and its rarity. Fossil dials are one of the hardest materials to work with due to its hardness of 2.5 in the Mohs scale. With that said it requires extreme precision and delicacy to execute such a dial, however once accomplished the appeal is simply sublime with its texture and hue matching perfectly against the yellow gold case.
Offered in excellent overall condition with a well-preserved case with clean and sharp edges and a flawless dial, the present example is also accompanied by its original guarantee.
Offered in excellent overall condition with a well-preserved case with clean and sharp edges and a flawless dial, the present example is also accompanied by its original guarantee.
Literature
Rolex
Swiss | 1905Founded 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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