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252

Rolex

Ref. 18038

Day-Date

A highly rare and attractive yellow gold and emerald-set calendar wristwatch with centre seconds and bracelet, made for the Sultanate of Oman

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The Day-Date is the most varied, unusual and creative model that Rolex has ever produced. Still in production today, the Day-Date was Rolex’s first model to display separate day and date apertures. Since the model’s official launch in 1956, it has seen a multitude of design variations. The Day-Date's simple and pure design allows for the model to be embellished with a variety of stones and finishes on the case, dial and bracelet. There is hardly any other Rolex model so diverse.

Eye-catching and exuberant, the present watch is the only known reference 18038 to be fitted with the present dial configuration. The baguette emerald numerals are incredibly vibrant, and contrast with the red Khanjar logo at 6 o'clock. It most notably contrasts, and complements another Day-Date in this sale, as the latter is fitted with reverse features - ruby baguette numerals and a green Khanjar logo.

Offered in possibly unpolished condition, this watch features full, strong proportions, and crisp hallmarks underneath the lugs.

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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