Rolex Day-Date 18038

Ref. 18038A very fine and rare yellow gold wristwatch with center seconds, day, date, dégradé dial, diamond-set indexes, bracelet, guarantee and box

Manufacturer: Rolex Year: Circa 1988 Reference No: 18038 Movement No: 1’948’134 Case No: R453716 Model Name: Day-Date Material: 18k yellow gold Calibre: Automatic, cal. 3055, 27 jewels Bracelet/Strap: 18K yellow gold Rolex President bracelet, 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 stamped Bucherer dated 10th June 1988, instruction manual, product literature, outer packaging and fitted presentation box. Literature: An example of Day-Date with a dégradé dial is prominently illustrated in the Day-Date The Presidential Rolex by Pucci Papaleo, page 302.Adored by collectors due to its diverse spectrum of vibrant colours offered, the Rolex Stella Day-Date offers a fun and contemporary appeal to the firm’s robust luxury President’s model. Derived originally from a company by the name of Stella based in Châtelaine and Geneva, the company was responsible for supplying Rolex with a special type of lacquer used in these rare and exotic dials. Released in 1978, the Day-Date ref. 18038 was the successor to the iconic ref. 1803 featuring for the first time a robust sapphire crystal replacing the former Plexiglas. Another practical upgrade was the introduction of a quickset function for the date through its new cal. 3055. The reference is also one of which where these rare and exotic Stella dials were fitted upon. The present example Rolex Day-Date ref. 18038 from circa 1988 with an “R” serial features a wonderfully paired brown degrade Stella dial where the exotic brown hue intensifies towards the edge of the dial. Against its yellow gold case, the appeal is simply sublime further enhanced with 10 diamond-set indexes. Offered with its full set of accessories and in attractive overall condition, the present example is surely a nice piece to wear casually on the weekend.