Rolex A precious and rare, Day Date, automatic wristwatch in white gold, with light-blue lacquer "Stella" dial, box and papers, reference 18039.
A precious and rare, Day Date, automatic wristwatch in white gold, with light-blue lacquer "Stella" dial, box and papers, reference 18039. Model Day-Date. Case Material 18K white gold. Movement Automatic, cal. 3055, 27 jewels. Dimension 36mm Diameter. Signed Case, dial and movement. Accessories Accompanied by Rolex guarantee stamped Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Co. LTD, booklets, wallet, additional link, hang tags, fitted presentation box and outer packaging. If ever there was a watch that defined discreet power, it is the Rolex Day-Date. Introduced in 1956, it was not merely another model in the catalogue, it was a statement. The first waterproof, self-winding chronometer wristwatch to display both the day in full and the date, and the first to be paired with the now legendary three-link “President” bracelet. From the very beginning, it was available exclusively in precious metals. No steel. No compromise. Only gold or platinum. The present reference 18039 in white gold takes that authority and adds a twist of pure exuberance. Its turquoise blue lacquer “Stella” dial is not simply a color, it is an attitude. Produced in small numbers during the 1970s, often for select markets such as the Middle East and Asia, these dials were bold, glossy and unapologetically vibrant at a time when Rolex was otherwise the embodiment of restraint. They were not universally loved then. Today? They are icons. This particular example is wonderfully preserved. The 36 mm white gold case retains strong proportions, crisp hallmarks beneath the lugs and a sharp fluted bezel. The dial, luminous and almost electric in tone, contrasts magnificently with the cool heft of the precious metal case and bracelet. It is flamboyant but within the disciplined architecture of the Day-Date, it remains utterly refined. Accompanied by its guarantee stamped Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Co. LTD, hang tags, fitted presentation box and outer packaging, this is a chapter of Rolex history where confidence met color, and created something unforgettable.
