Rolex - The Hong Kong Watch Auction: TWO Hong Kong Monday, May 30, 2016 | Phillips

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  • Manufacturer: Rolex
    Year: 1995
    Reference No: 18238
    Movement No: 7'159'950
    Case No: W327347
    Model Name: Day-Date
    Material: 18k yellow gold and diamonds
    Calibre: Automatic, 3155, 31 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: Grey crocodile leather strap
    Clasp/Buckle: Gilt Rolex buckle stamped Rolex SA
    Dimensions: 35.5 mm. diameter
    Signed: Case, dial and movement signed
    Literature: For another example of a reference 18238 with a diamond-set fossil dial, please see Day-Date The Presidential Rolex by Pucci Papaleo, pages 416 and 417.

  • Catalogue Essay

    Rolex incorporated a variety of different hard stone into their dials and transform every single watch into a unique creation. Working with hard stone is an extremely delicate and time-consuming process, making these examples exceedingly rare. This present reference 18238 features one of the rarest dial versions carved from a petrified fossil. The watch is further enhanced with diamond-set numerals set within gold chatons, giving it a very exclusive and sophisticated look. Offered in unpolished condition, the watch still retains its factory sticker to the case back.

  • 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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Σ18

Ref. 18238
A fine and very rare yellow gold and diamond-set calendar wristwatch with sweep centre seconds and fossil hardstone dial

1995
35.5 mm. diameter
Case, dial and movement signed

Estimate
HK$100,000 - 200,000 

Contact Specialist

Thomas Perazzi
Head of Watches, Asia
+852 2318 2001
thomasperazzi@phillips.com

Ziyong Ho
Specialist
+852 9386 2032
ziyongho@phillips.com

Jill Chen
Specialist
+852 2318 2033
jillchen@phillips.com

The Hong Kong Watch Auction: TWO

Hong Kong Auction 31 May 2016