Manufacturer: Rolex Year: Circa 1990 Reference No: 18238 Case No: E288’519 Model Name: Day-Date Material: 18K yellow gold Calibre: Automatic, cal. 3155, 31 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 undated Rolex guarantee stamped David Morris London, instruction manual, product literature, 1990-1991 calendar card, hang tag, green card holder, leather note book, cloth, outer packaging and fitted presentation box.
Catalogue Essay
The ref. 18238 was introduced in 1988 with an upgraded cal. 3155 featuring a double quick-set function for the day and date enhancing its practicality by a mile. With aesthetics similar to its forefather, the reference was available with regular dials and various hardstone dials. The reference was discontinued in 2000, making way for the new ref. 118238. Powered by the cal. 3155, the ref. 18238 is the first Day-Date to feature a robust and practical double quick-set function for the easy adjustments of the day and date via the crown.
The present example Rolex Day-Date ref. 18238 with an E serial from circa 1990 is offered in “like new” overall condition. Featuring an attractive champagne dial adorned with 11 baguette-cut diamond-set indexes, the appeal is nothing short of luxurious and iconic. Absolutely complete with its full set of accessories, this well-preserved specimen will surely ignite interest from the community of Day-Date collectors.
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.
Ref. 18238 A fine and well-preserved yellow gold wristwatch with center seconds, day, date, baguette-cut diamond-set indexes, bracelet, guarantee and presentation box
Circa 1990 36mm diameter Case, dial, movement, bracelet and clasp signed