Manufacturer: Rolex Year: Circa 1986 Reference No: 18048, stamped 18000 inside the caseback Movement No: 1’646’006 Case No: 9’131’973 Model Name: Day-Date Material: 18K yellow gold and diamonds Calibre: Automatic, cal. 3055, 27 jewels Bracelet/Strap: 18K yellow gold Rolex President bracelet, endlinks stamped “55”, max length 180mm Clasp/Buckle: 18K yellow gold Rolex concealed folding clasp Dimensions: 36mm diameter Signed: Case, dial, movement, bracelet and clasp signed Accessories: Accompanied by Rolex guarantee dated 9th September 1987 stamped Fine Jewellers Guild, product literature, hang tag and fitted presentation box.
Catalogue Essay
Encased in yellow gold, the present Rolex Day-Date ref. 18048 from circa 1986, features an attractive and desirable champagne gold dial matching the gold President bracelet. The dial is further enhanced with ruby and diamond-set indexes while the bezel of the watch is highlighted with 44 brilliant-cut diamonds. The Rolex Day-Date ref. 18048 was in production from the late 1970’s to the late 1980’s.
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. 18048, stamped 18000 inside the caseback A fine and rare yellow gold and diamond-set wristwatch with center seconds, day, date indication, ruby and diamond-set indexes, bracelet, guarantee and presentation box
Circa 1986 36mm diameter Case, dial, movement, bracelet and clasp signed