No Reserve
64
Rolex
Ref. 18138
Day-Date
A rare and attractive yellow gold wristwatch with day, date, blue “fumé” dial, diamond-set indices, and bracelet
- Estimate
- $15,000 - 30,000•
$20,320
Lot Details
- Manufacturer
- Rolex
- Year
- Circa 1987
- Reference No
- 18138
- Movement No
- 1’617’100
- Case No
- 9’536’011, case interior stamped 18000
- Model Name
- Day-Date
- Material
- 18K yellow gold and diamonds
- Calibre
- Automatic, cal. 3055, 27 jewels
- Bracelet/Strap
- 18K yellow gold Roles Oyster bracelet, stamped 55, max overall length 180mm
- Clasp/Buckle
- 18K yellow gold Rolex deployant clasp, stamped 8385
- Dimensions
- 36mm Diameter
- Signed
- Case, dial, movement, and clasp signed
Specialist
Full-Cataloguing
Catalogue Essay
• Rolex’s Day-Date model is a horological legend, which nearly 70 years since it was launched in 1956, retains a classic modern aesthetic and remains one of the brand’s top selling models. The timepiece was the first to feature the day of the week fully spelled out in an aperture at the 12 o’clock, with the date aperture at 3 o’clock. It was a multifaceted reference featuring a variety of dial and case styles, from smooth bezels to fluted examples, to Florentine and bark finishes, as well as a wide range of dial types. A 1966 Rolex advertisement referred to the model as “The President’s Watch” and an icon was born.
• The reference 18138 was produced for a relatively short period of time from 1985-1988, and often adorn with gems. The present Day-Date is distinguished by the “Rolex” brand name boldly engraved on the bezel’s edge at 6 o’clock. It is further highlighted by the wonderful blue “fumé” dial with gradient effect transitioning from the lighter blue center to the darker outer edge showcasing the diamond-set hour markers. A truly luxurious offering from Rolex, the diamond hour markers are complemented by the diamond-set bezel and lugs. This rare example presents an exciting opportunity to own one of Rolex’s most prestigious models.
• The reference 18138 was produced for a relatively short period of time from 1985-1988, and often adorn with gems. The present Day-Date is distinguished by the “Rolex” brand name boldly engraved on the bezel’s edge at 6 o’clock. It is further highlighted by the wonderful blue “fumé” dial with gradient effect transitioning from the lighter blue center to the darker outer edge showcasing the diamond-set hour markers. A truly luxurious offering from Rolex, the diamond hour markers are complemented by the diamond-set bezel and lugs. This rare example presents an exciting opportunity to own one of Rolex’s most prestigious models.
Rolex
Swiss | 1905Founded 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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