Rolex - The Hong Kong Watch Auction: X Hong Kong Friday, July 10, 2020 | Phillips

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  • Manufacturer: Rolex
    Year: Circa 1999
    Reference No: 18238
    Movement No: 7’760’699
    Case No: A207’606
    Model Name: Day-Date
    Material: 18K yellow gold
    Calibre: Automatic, cal. 3155, 31 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: 18K yellow gold Rolex President bracelet, endlinks stamped “55B”, max length 190mm
    Clasp/Buckle: 18K yellow gold Rolex concealed folding clasp stamped “U2”
    Dimensions: 36mm diameter
    Signed: Case, dial, movement, bracelet and clasp signed
    Accessories: Further accompanied by Rolex guarantee dated 28th September 1999 stamped The Hour Glass, service guarantee, green wallet, hang tag, instruction manual, product literature, outer packaging and fitted presentation box.

  • Catalogue Essay

    Introduced originally in 1956, the Rolex Day-Date went on to become one of the most iconic luxury wristwatches of our time. Regarded as the “President’s” watch, it was worn by the likes of President Eisenhower. Since then, the Day-Date has enjoyed many variations such as dial, material, and sizes.

    The ref. 18238 was introduced in 1988 with an upgraded cal. 3155 featuring a double quick-set function for the day and date. With aesthetics similar to its forefather, the reference was available with regular dials and various hardstone dials. The present example fitted with a “Jurassic” fossil dial with diamond-set indexes belongs to the hardstone family. Extremely delicate to work with measuring a mere 2.5 on the Mohs scale of hardness, it requires tremendous craftsmanship and precision to execute the feat.

    Presented in excellent overall condition and accompanied by the full set of accessories, the present ref. 18238 is a fantastic option for collectors seeking for an elegant timepiece for the weekend.

  • 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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946

Ref. 18238
A fine and attractive yellow gold wristwatch with center seconds, day, date, “Jurassic” fossil dial, diamond-set indexes, bracelet, guarantee and box

Circa 1999
36mm diameter
Case, dial, movement, bracelet and clasp signed

Estimate
HK$160,000 - 200,000 
€17,500-21,800
$20,500-25,600

Sold for HK$200,000

Contact Specialist

Thomas Perazzi

Head of Watches, Asia
+852 2318 2001

WatchesHK@phillips.com

 

The Hong Kong Watch Auction: X

Hong Kong Auction 10 July 2020