Manufacturer: Rolex Year: 1998 Reference No: 18238 Case No: A207'873 Model Name: Day-Date Material: 18k yellow gold Calibre: Automatic, 3155 Bracelet/Strap: Rolex President, end links stamped 55B Clasp/Buckle: Concealed deployant clasp Dimensions: 36mm. Diameter Signed:Movement, dial, case and bracelet signed Provenance: Property of An Important Asian Collector
Provenance
Property of An Important Asian Collector
Catalogue Essay
This stunning yellow gold 18238 reference made in 1998 is fitted with a highly rare and important white marble dial featuring a closed minute track and applied Roman hour numerals. Technically speaking, the challenge of keeping the natural stone’s surface intact is truly remarkable due to the material’s delicate nature. In fact, the process consists in drilling holes and openings in order to fit metal elements, such as the indexes’ inserts and the day and date window’s frame.The 3155 calibre is the latest generation mechanism, featuring the double quick-set date function which allows a rapid adjustment of both date and days of the week.The President reference 8385 bracelet with solid links and concealed clasp is further enhanced by its immaculate condition.
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.