152
Rolex
Ref. 18038
Day-Date
A very scarce and highly attractive gold wristwatch with center seconds, day, date, onyx dial and presentation box
Full-Cataloguing
In this instance, the clean dial layout allows the hardstone to be fully admired, and given the pitch black sheen of onyx the impression is that of staring into an impossibly clean and flawless lacquered dial. The gilt text against the glossy black onyx is a perfect match with the case, giving the present timepiece a distinct and balanced appeal. In fact, the black-and-gold combination is one of the most appreciated in watchmaking (one example above all is the JPS Paul Newman). Presented in very attractive overall condition, thanks to its stately but balanced looks combined with the versatility of the Day-Date case, the present timepiece is one of those rare collector’s watches with the potential to be worn in virtually any situation, from a casual lunch among friends to the most elegant gala.
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.