1090
Rolex
Ref. 18108
Day-Date
A highly rare and well-preserved yellow gold wristwatch with center seconds, day, date, diamond-set brown dégradé dial, bark-finished diamond-set bezel and bracelet
Full-Cataloguing
- Bark-finished bezel, bracelet & diamond-set brown dégradé dial
- Very rare configuration, hardly ever surfaced in auctions
- Excellent case condition with green sticker on caseback
- In a private collection for nearly 20 years
The present Day-Date features a rare "bark" finished bezel that mimics the natural texture of tree bark, further punctuated by 12 factory diamonds set at the hour positions. The brown dégradé dial is embellished with an extraordinarily rare arrangement of baguette-cut and brilliant-cut diamonds, creating a striking visual contrast against the warm yellow gold case and textured bezel.
Matching the bezel, the original President bracelet features central links executed with the same bark finish, unifying the design across the wrist. Cased in classic 36mm proportions, this reference 18108 is powered by cal. 3055, featuring a quickset date mechanism for rapid adjustments.
Preserved in excellent overall condition, the case retains strong proportions, sharp hallmarks on the back and its original green caseback sticker. Carefully stored in a private collection for nearly 20 years, this distinctive Day-Date represents a rare and remarkable find for the discerning collector.
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.