Rolex - The Geneva Watch Auction: XIV Geneva Friday, November 5, 2021 | Phillips

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  • Manufacturer: Rolex
    Year: Circa 1980
    Reference No: 18038
    Movement No: 0419567
    Case No: 6'218'092
    Model Name: Day-Date
    Material: 18K yellow gold
    Calibre: Automatic, cal. 3055, 27 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: 18K yellow gold Rolex President bracelet, max length 200mm
    Clasp/Buckle: 18K yellow gold Rolex concealed deployant clasp stamped "8385" and "B"
    Dimensions: 36mm Diameter
    Signed: Case, dial, movement and clasp signed
    Accessories: Accompanied by Rolex "faux seal" hangtag, fitted presentation box and outer packaging. Furthermore delivered with Bucherer Pre-Owned Warranty card dated September 1, 2020.

  • Catalogue Essay

    Reference 18038 was launched in 1978. While aesthetically very close to its ancestor reference 1803, technically it featured a number of improvements. the depth rating was elevated to 100m, the sapphire crystal makes its first appearance on a Day-Date, and a new movement is introduced: cal. 3055, featuring an increased frequency of 28’800 vph and introducing the quickset mechanism for the date.

    Realized in a number of dial variations, ranging from Stella dial to hard stone dials to metal dials with various graphics, it was also fitted, as presently exemplified, with wooden dials, underlining the creativity of Rolex. The organic nature of the wooden dial provides a refreshing new aesthetic to the wristwatch, an item of pure technicality, usually as far as way as possible from “natural” shapes. Furthermore, as an added bonus, each wooden dial piece is necessarily “unique”, as no two piece of wood will feature the exact same grain.

  • 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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This lot is offered without Reserve

90

Lot offered with No Reserve

Ref. 18038
A very fine and well preserved yellow gold automatic wristwatch with center seconds, day, date, wooden dial, box and retailer warranty

Circa 1980
36mm Diameter
Case, dial, movement and clasp signed

Estimate
CHF15,000 - 25,000 
€14,000-23,300
$16,200-27,000

Sold for CHF30,240

Contact Specialist

Alexandre Ghotbi
Head of Watches, Continental Europe and the Middle East Director
AGhotbi@phillips.com

The Geneva Watch Auction: XIV

Geneva Auction 5 & 7 November 2021