8018

Rolex

Ref. 18238

Day-Date

A highly rare and exquisite yellow gold wristwatch with onyx dial, diamond-set indexes, center seconds, day, date, bracelet and guarantee

Estimate
HK$140,000–280,000
€15,400–30,700
$17,900–35,900
Current Bid (5 bids)
HK$190,000
Current Bid (5 bids)
HK$190,000
Manufacturer
Rolex
Year
Circa 1996
Movement No
5’728’645
Reference No
18238
Case No
T169403; inside caseback 18200
Model Name
Day-Date
Material
18K yellow gold
Calibre
Automatic, cal. 3155, 31 jewels
Bracelet/Strap
18K yellow gold Rolex President bracelet; endlinks stamped "55", max length 175mm
Clasp/Buckle
18K yellow gold Rolex deployant clasp; stamped "8385"
Dimensions
36mm diameter
Signed
Case, dial, movement and clasp signed
Accessories
Accompanied by Rolex guarantee stamped Jewelry Nitsuta, Japan dated 17th October 1999, product literature, leather folio, hang tag, associated presentation box and outer packaging.
Read Conditions of Sale
Good to know:
- Rare onyx dial adorned with diamond-set indexes
- 18K yellow gold case with nice warm patina
- Cal. 3155 with double quickset

Rolex’s Day-Date was the world’s first wristwatch to include the full name of the day at 12 o’clock and a date aperture at 3 o’clock. Since 1956, it remains one of the most diverse and exciting flagship models the firm has ever produced. Apart from prototype models, the Day-Date has only been cased in precious metals for the Rolex clientele, attesting to the gravity of its eminence.

Introduced in 1988, the Rolex Day-Date ref. 18238 marked a significant milestone in the evolution of the Day-Date collection. It debuted the cal. 3155, an automatic movement featuring Rolex’s first double quickset function, allowing independent adjustment of both the day and date.

Crafted entirely from 18K yellow gold, this ref. 18238 features a classic 36mm case with a fluted bezel, paired with the iconic President bracelet, known for its semi-circular links and concealed folding clasp. It features a stunning onyx hardstone dial adorned with diamond-set indexes. Developed a nice patina, the warm hue of the case matches perfectly with the inky black onyx, and the diamonds on the dial together frame this example a luxury and elegant timepiece.

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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