Manufacturer: Rolex Year: 1986 Reference No: 18039B Movement No: 0'516'247 Case No: 9'064'318; inside caseback stamped 18000 Model Name: Day-Date Tridor Material: 18k yellow gold, pink gold and white gold Calibre: Automatic, cal. 3055, 27 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Tridor Rolex president bracelet, end links stamped 55, max length 190mm Clasp/Buckle: Tridor Rolex concealed deployant clasp Dimensions: 36mm Diameter Signed: Case, dial, movement, bracelet and clasp signed
Catalogue Essay
During the mid-1980s, Rolex unveiled the Tridor edition of the Day-Date, featuring a unique combination of three different gold hues. This singular model showcased a blend of yellow gold for the fluted bezel, a white gold case, and a President bracelet with center links crafted from yellow, white, and pink gold.
The wonderful champagne dial present on this Tridor reference 18039B is adorned with ten baguette-cut sapphire hour markers, harmoniously interlaced with round cut diamonds. The caliber powering this particular reference is further equipped with a quick-set feature, enabling swift adjustments of the date.
In excellent overall condition, the present Rolex Tridor Day-Date reference 18039B showcases strong definition to the lugs and retains the factory green Rolex sticker on the caseback.
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.