Manufacturer: Rolex Year: Circa 1980 Reference No: 18039 Movement No: 0'573'510 Case No: 6'739'148 Model Name: Day-Date "Stella" Material: 18K white gold Calibre: Automatic, cal. 3055, 27 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Leather Clasp/Buckle: 18K white gold Rolex buckle Dimensions: 36mm Diameter Signed: Case, dial, movement and buckle signed
Catalogue Essay
Ever glamorous, the Day-Date model delights with its myriad of dial, bracelet, bezel and gold-finished designs.
Among the most collectible of all Day-Dates are ones fitted with lacquer "Stella" dials. Translucent yet vibrant, "Stella" dials offer so much exclusivity to the wearer, as no two are exactly the same in appearance. Rolex adorned their Day-Date watches with a variety of dials, ranging from yellow to mint green.
This extremely striking white gold Day-Date displays a beautiful forest green "Stella" dial which showcases a stunning spider-web effect. Such a lush and rich green color is incredibly rare and attractive. Coupled with the white gold case, the effect is stunning. The case itself is preserved in excellent condition with sharp hallmarks beneath the lugs. The top of the lugs displays a crisp and sharp finish.
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.