Exclusive Timepieces 23 –⁠ 24 April 2022 | Monaco

Auction Details

A wide and extremely attractive selection of collectible timepieces from leading collectors, such as Goldberger with the third part of the famous “Rolex Connoisseur Collection”. Also offered: an assortment of the most sought-after contemporary watches such as the platinum Patek Philippe Nautilus, some very rare examples of the Royal Oak, a single owner’s collection of extraordinary Stella dials Rolex DayDates.

Session I
Saturday 23 April at 2:30 p.m. – lots 1 to 103
Session II
Sunday 24 April at 10:30 a.m. – lots 104 to 181
Session III
Sunday 24 April at 2:30 p.m. – lots 182 to 273

161 Rolex Very Fascinating and Esteemed, Day-date, Automatic Wristwatch in Gold, With Tiger-eye Dial, Reference 18238, With Warranty and Booklets

Estimate: € 20,000 –⁠ 40,000

Sold € 36,400

Model: Day-Date
Reference: 18238
Case Material: Yellow Gold
Bracelet Material: Yellow Gold
Year: 1989
Movement: Automatic
Caliber: 3155
Case N°: L685752
Dimensions: 36 mm
Signed: Dial, movement and case
Accessories: Warranty and Booklets

Rolex has always loved experimenting and daring in its productions using the most particular materials to make absolutely unique dials. These creations are now at the center of a whirling interest from collectors and anyone looking for something rare and unusual. In some cases it is not necessary to be an expert to be able to appreciate certain details on a dial, and this is even easier when the whole quadrant is special: Rolex has therefore produced models of Datejust and Day-Date with some hard stones, such as onyx, malachite, lapis lazuli, meteorite or coral, all very appreciated and sought after. But if someone has to try and choose one of the most appreciated materials, it would probably stand out the Tiger Eye dial like the one mounted on this watch. The present watch is a rare example of a Day-Date reference 18238 fully produced in 18k yellow gold. The whole case is preserved in absolutely perfect conditions like new with very deep and crisp hallmarks under the lugs. On this specimen has been mounted on a catching Tiger-Eye stone: one important thing to underline is that due to their fragile nature many of these dials used to break during their production and only a real expert could work on these types of materials. Moreover, it was very problematic also its application on the watch which needed all the attention and experience of a watchmaker, it follows that even the production costs were quite high, bringing these specimens to be highly sought after by collectors. The delicate stone dial features an aperture for the date at 3 o’clock and at 12 o’clock for the day, and gorgeous yellow-gold hour and minute hands with sweep center seconds. The whole watch is in totally attractive conditions, completed by its original yellow-gold president bracelet, warranty and booklets, striking at every single glance.