Rolex - The Hong Kong Watch Auction: XII Hong Kong Saturday, June 5, 2021 | Phillips

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  • Manufacturer: Rolex
    Year: Circa 1981
    Reference No: 18038
    Movement No: 0’581’245
    Case No: 6’583’703
    Model Name: Day-Date
    Material: 18K yellow gold
    Calibre: Automatic, cal. 3055, 27 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: Leather
    Clasp/Buckle: Gold plated Rolex pin buckle
    Dimensions: 36mm diameter
    Signed: Case, dial, movement and buckle signed

  • Catalogue Essay

    The present Rolex Day-Date ref. 18038 in yellow gold features a rare and desirable birch wood dial. While the Day-Date has featured a wide array of dial materials over the course of its production which still continues today, it has become a fascination for collectors to seek for the rarest dials ever featured in the iconic President’s watch. While each natural material requires a different method of execution, wood dials certainly ranks close to the toughest to produce due to its delicacy.

    Matching perfectly with the yellow gold hue of the case, birch wood dials displays a beautiful tan brown color that is unique with every example. With matching gold hands, indexes and apertures, the appeal is further harmonized while retaining excellent legibility. The present example is offered in attractive overall condition and is a piece that will surely captivate the attention of dedicated collectors of rare Day-Dates.

  • 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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890

Lot offered with No Reserve

Ref. 18038
A fine and rare yellow gold wristwatch with center seconds, day, date and “wood” dial

Circa 1981
36mm diameter
Case, dial, movement and buckle signed

Estimate
HK$60,000 - 120,000 
€6,500-13,000
$7,700-15,400

Sold for HK$132,300

Contact Specialist

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

The Hong Kong Watch Auction: XII

Hong Kong Auctions 5-6 June 2021