Manufacturer: Rolex Year: Circa 1987 Reference No: 18038 Movement No: 1'873'609 Case No: 9'639'900 Model Name: Day-Date "Stella" Material: 18K yellow gold Calibre: Automatic, cal. 3055, 27 jewels Bracelet/Strap: 18K yellow gold Rolex President bracelet, max length 185mm Clasp/Buckle: 18K yellow gold Rolex concealed deployant clasp Dimensions: 36mm Diameter Signed: Case, dial, movement and bracelet signed
Catalogue Essay
From its introduction over 60 years ago, the Day-Date model has earned its iconic reputation throughout a dual identity: at times, very serious on the wrist of a president on official duty and at others, reflecting the first lights of dawn when leaving an exclusive night club. The Day-Date is for sure one of the most versatile ambassadors of the crowned brand! This green lacquer stella dial is part of the exclusive color designed to appeal to the Jet-Set community. Further adorned with diamonds, known to be eternal, green is for many the color that symbolizes hope and success. Definitely aimed to be enjoyed by the luckiest, the yellow gold case and bracelet add even more flamboyance to this timepiece. The fantastic condition of this watch, displaying a perfectly preserved case with the factory sticker still present on the caseback, the most impressive edges around the day and date apertures attesting to Rolex’s stringent standards in quality along with the flamboyant color combination make this watch the winning tierce of the competition!
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.