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82

Rolex

Ref. 18038

Day-Date "Stella"

A very rare, extremely attractive and superbly well-preserved yellow gold automatic wristwatch with center seconds, day, date, burgundy Stella dial, bracelet, Guarantee and box

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With its production starting in 1977 and ending in 1988, reference 18038 was distinguished by its new-at-the-time scratch-proof sapphire crystal, an upgrade from the original Plexiglas. While today sapphire crystal are accepted as standard for a wristwatch, at the time it was revolutionary.

Reference 18038 is one of the last models to be fitted with extraordinarily attractive lacquer dials (dubbed “stella” - “star”, in Italian - by Rolex), such as the case for the present watch, featuring an immaculate burgundy Stella dial.

Furthermore, the piece is offered in absolutely stunning condition, obviously unpolished and probably unworn, and still retaining the flawless green Rolex sticker to the back. The dial as well is in similar condition, without a single flaw and fully retaining the tritium luminous accents, now aged to a warm camel hue.

Of course, such an outstanding condition is matched with the presence of its original accessories. When looking at the punched guarantee card, one notices that the present watch was sold in Rome by Rolex retailer “Bedetti”, thus perfectly explaining the rare and sough-after Italian calendar which blesses the present 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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