Rolex - The Geneva Watch Auction: XI Geneva Sunday, June 28, 2020 | Phillips

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  • Manufacturer: Rolex
    Year: Circa 1998
    Reference No: 18239
    Movement No: 7'574'252
    Case No: U700656
    Model Name: Day-Date "Rubellite"
    Material: 18K white gold
    Calibre: Automatic, cal. 3155, 31 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: 18K white gold Rolex President bracelet stamped 55B6 to the endlinks, max length 195mm
    Clasp/Buckle: 18K white gold Rolex hidden deployant clasp stamped "Z11" and "8385"
    Dimensions: 36mm Diameter
    Signed: Case, dial, movement and clasp signed

  • Catalogue Essay

    This superb white gold Day-Date is fitted with an incredibly attractive and equally rare rubellite dial with diamond-set numerals. The textured effect of the rubellite adds flair, movement and intrigue to the dial layout, and furthermore provides a perfect canvas for the diamond-set numerals to shine on. The calendar windows, like with all hard-stone dials, are framed in white metal. 

    Hardstone dials are among the most attractive and collectible dials to have ever found their way into the Day-Date line. Beyond the present rubellite, other stones have been employed by Rolex: onyx, grossularia, malachite, marble, agate and jade are just some examples of this remarkable diversity.

  • Artist Biography

    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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Ref. 18239
An extremely rare and attractive automatic wristwatch with center seconds, day, date, rubellite dial, diamond-set indexes and bracelet

Circa 1998
36mm Diameter
Case, dial, movement and clasp signed

Estimate
CHF25,000 - 45,000 
€23,200-41,700
$27,300-49,200

Sold for CHF47,500

Contact Specialist

Alexandre Ghotbi
Head of Watches, Continental Europe and the Middle East

41 79 637 1724
aghotbi@phillips.com

The Geneva Watch Auction: XI

Geneva Auction 27 - 28 June 2020