14

Rolex

Ref. 18038

Day-Date

A fine and attractive yellow gold wristwatch with center seconds, day, Spanish date, onyx dial, bracelet, guarantee, product literature and presentation box

Estimate
$18,000 - 25,000
$35,560
Lot Details
Manufacturer
Rolex
Year
Circa 1979
Reference No
18038
Movement No
0'356'808
Case No
6’217’193
Model Name
Day-Date
Material
18K yellow gold
Calibre
Automatic, cal. 3055, 27 jewels
Bracelet/Strap
18K yellow gold Rolex President bracelet, max length 175mm
Clasp/Buckle
18K yellow gold Rolex President folding clasp
Dimensions
36mm Diameter
Signed
Case, dial, movement, bracelet and clasp signed
Accessories
Accompanied by Rolex guarantee, leather bound notebook, product literature, green Rolex booklet, and inner and outer presentation boxes.

Catalogue Essay

• Among the many variations of Rolex’s iconic Day-Date, the reference 18038 in yellow gold with a black onyx dial stands out as an exercise in refined simplicity. Produced in the late 1970s through the 1980s, the 18038 introduced the improved Caliber 3055 movement, featuring a quickset date function while maintaining the President bracelet and fluted bezel that have defined the model since its inception in 1956.
• The black onyx dial, devoid of hour markers, lends the watch a strikingly modern yet timeless aesthetic. This design choice places emphasis on the material itself—onyx, a semi-precious stone prized for its deep black hue and natural luster. Without indices or numerals to interrupt its surface, the dial becomes a pure expression of luxury, a statement of understatement.
• Further distinguishing this example is the Spanish-language day disc, an elegant detail that nods to Rolex’s international appeal and customization options. The presence of the Spanish day wheel not only enhances the watch’s individuality but also underscores the brand’s deep connection to European, Latin American, and Spanish-speaking collectors.
• Offered in excellent overall condition with stately and balanced proportions, the present timepiece is one of those rare collector’s watches, further accompanied by its full set of original accessories, destined to be shown off on any occasion.

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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