18Σ
Rolex
Ref. 18238
Day-Date
A fine and very rare yellow gold and diamond-set calendar wristwatch with sweep centre seconds and fossil hardstone dial
- Estimate
- HK$100,000 - 200,000
Lot Details
- Manufacturer
- Rolex
- Year
- 1995
- Reference No
- 18238
- Movement No
- 7'159'950
- Case No
- W327347
- Model Name
- Day-Date
- Material
- 18k yellow gold and diamonds
- Calibre
- Automatic, 3155, 31 jewels
- Bracelet/Strap
- Grey crocodile leather strap
- Clasp/Buckle
- Gilt <em>Rolex </em>buckle stamped <em>Rolex SA</em>
- Dimensions
- 35.5 mm. diameter
- Signed
- <em>Case, dial and movement signed</em>
Specialist
Full-Cataloguing
Catalogue Essay
Rolex incorporated a variety of different hard stone into their dials and transform every single watch into a unique creation. Working with hard stone is an extremely delicate and time-consuming process, making these examples exceedingly rare. This present reference 18238 features one of the rarest dial versions carved from a petrified fossil. The watch is further enhanced with diamond-set numerals set within gold chatons, giving it a very exclusive and sophisticated look. Offered in unpolished condition, the watch still retains its factory sticker to the case back.
Literature
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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