1092
Rolex
Ref. 118346
Day-Date
A dazzling, lavish and very rare platinum wristwatch with center seconds, Japanese day, date, pavé diamond-set dial and bezel, bracelet, guarantee and presentation box
Full-Cataloguing
- Pavé diamond-set dial and bezelm platinum case
- Debut at Phillips auction
- Japanese day wheel
- Complete with guarantee and presentation box
- Movement overhauled in 2025
The present Rolex Day-Date reference 118346 is a truly extraordinary example. Completely paved with brilliant-cut diamonds across the dial and bezel, it eschews the traditional Roman or Arabic numerals typically seen in the lineup to create a continuous bed of diamonds, broken only by the day and date apertures. Crafted in platinum, the cool white sheen of the case creates a seamless harmony with the dazzling gem-set surface, highlighting Rolex’s internal expertise in gem setting.
The rarity of this piece cannot be overstated, as such diamond-paved executions were typically reserved for Rolex's most discerning clientele. Offered in excellent condition with its original guarantee and presentation box, the watch previously underwent a Rolex service in Japan in 2025, during which the day wheel was updated to Japanese at the owner's request—a detail highly prized within the collector community. Representing a stunning iteration of Rolex’s flagship model, this reference 118346 stands as a true trophy timepiece.
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.