257 Rolex Very Fascinating and Esteemed, Day-Date, Automatic Wristwatch in Yellow Gold, With Onyx Dial, Reference 18 038

Estimate: €15,000 –⁠ 30,000

Sold (Premium)€32,500

Model: Day-Date
Reference: 18 038
Case Material: Yellow Gold
Bracelet Material: Leather Strap
Year: 1979
Movement: Automatic
Caliber: 3055
Case N°: 5975015
Dimensions: 36 mm
Signed: Dial, Movement and Case

It is often forgotten that Rolex occasionally used precious hard stones in Datejusts and Day-Dates. These creations are now at the center of a whirling interest from collectors or anyone looking for something rare and unusual. Due to their fragile nature, many of these dials tended to break during their production, this problematic increased the manufacturing cost and that’s why these watches are highly sought after by collectors. Since its inception in 1956, the Day-Date has been associated with glamour and luxury. Its iconic and easily recognizable aesthetic make this reference a staple of production for the manufacturer. It was indeed engineered as a resistant, automatic, and precise timepiece and, as said, sometimes featured some very special dials released with hard stones. These rare watches offer a totally different design, since the dial does not show any indexes aside from the applied crown logo at 12. The present reference 18 038 is one of these examples with a very striking onyx dial. The notable overall state of preservation of the case pass almost in the background when compared with the beauty of the black onyx dial with gilt printing, hands and applied logo which grants immediate and crystal-clear legibility.