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

Create your first list.

Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.

  • Manufacturer: Rolex
    Year: Circa 1984
    Reference No: 18038
    Movement No: 0’772’139
    Case No: 8’086’664
    Model Name: Day-Date “Stella”
    Material: 18K yellow gold
    Calibre: Automatic, cal. 3055, 27 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: 18K yellow gold Rolex President bracelet, max length 185mm
    Clasp/Buckle: 18K yellow gold Rolex concealed folding clasp
    Dimensions: 36mm diameter
    Signed: Case, dial, movement, bracelet and clasp signed
    Accessories: Accompanied by Rolex guarantee stamped Siow Hiap Singapore dated 13th July 1984, green wallet, hang tag, additional leather strap with pin buckle, outer packaging and fitted presentation box.

  • Catalogue Essay

    The Rolex “Stella” Day-Date is one that is admired by many due to its fruitful offering of vibrant dial colors and its unique glossy luster. These vivacious glossy lacquered dial-fitted Day-Date’s are among one of the most collectable vintage Rolex timepieces today. From a lustrous turquoise blue to a bright pastel pink, it was the first time in the history of the firm that such whimsical, spirited array of dial colors were introduced in a wristwatch.

    Introduced in the exciting period of the 1970s and produced for roughly a decade, these colorful lacquered dials were manufactured by a company called Stella, based in Châtelaine and Geneva, the firm supplied Rolex’s dial makers at the period with special types of lacquer that resulted in the name it proudly deserves. The present example ref. 18038 features perhaps one of the most desirable and rarest colors, the “Tiffany” blue. Contrasted beautifully against a yellow gold case, the combination is to many one of the most sought after examples.

    Offered with its original guarantee stamped by Singaporean authorized dealer Siow Hiap dated 1984, the present rare and sought after “Stella” Day-Date adorned with diamond-set indexes is the perfect summer watch fit for the tropical metropolis of the lion city.

  • 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.

    View More Works

894

Ref. 18038
A very fine and rare yellow gold wristwatch with center seconds, day, date, turquoise blue “Stella” dial, diamond-set indexes, bracelet, guarantee and presentation box

Circa 1984
36mm diameter
Case, dial, movement, bracelet and clasp signed

Estimate
HK$220,000 - 320,000 
€23,400-34,000
$28,200-41,000

Sold for HK$403,200

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