Manufacturer: Rolex Year: Circa 2000 Reference No: 118208 Movement No: 5'682'975 Case No: P468892 Model Name: Day-Date Material: 18K yellow gold, diamonds and lapis lazuli Calibre: Automatic, cal. 3155, 31 jewels Bracelet/Strap: 18K yellow gold Rolex Oyster bracelet, max length 180mm Clasp/Buckle: 18K yellow gold Rolex deployant clasp Dimensions: 36mm Diameter Signed: Case, dial, movement and bracelet signed Accessories: Accompanied by Rolex guarantee, wallet and numbered hang tag.
Catalogue Essay
The Day-Date line (together with its less complicated sibling the Datejust) has historically been a canvas for Rolex to express its unbound creativity. As a result, the model features some of the most unusual dial configurations ever seen on a Rolex watch. The company went well beyond experimenting with different graphic styles, and the Day-Date can be found with dial options spacing from wood to lacquer, fossil, marble, coral etc.
Offered in absolutely crisp and unspoiled condition, furthermore complete of its original warranty, the present example features the charismatic lapis lazuli dial with diamond indexes. Defined by its rich blue hue with warm yellow gold flecks, the material is in perfect contrast with the warm gold case for a powerful aesthetic result. Its appearance is furthermore bolstered by the smooth bezel and Oyster bracelet.
The present timepiece is preserved in marvellous condition with crisp hallmarks and numbers between the lugs. It is furthermore accompanied by its original guarantee and numbered hang tag.
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.