
Day-Date, Reference 18039 | A white gold wristwatch with day, date, bracelet and blood stone dial | Circa 1979
Auction Closed
November 9, 12:39 PM GMT
Estimate
150,000 - 300,000 CHF
Lot Details
Description
Dial: blood stone
Calibre: cal. 3055 automatic, 27 jewels
Movement number: 0'220'261
Case: 18k white gold, screw-down case back
Case number: 5'952'370
Closure: 18k white gold Rolex President bracelet and folding clasp
Size: 36 mm diameter, bracelet circumference approximately 180 mm
Signed: case, dial and movement
Box: no
Papers: no
Accessories: none
The Day-Date stands as one of the most versatile and prestigious lines within the Rolex collection, offering an impressive array of sizes, case materials, dial variations, and exquisite gem-set designs. Referred to as the “President’s Watch,” the Day-Date has been a defining symbol of Rolex’s excellence since its introduction in 1956.
The present Day-Date, dating from circa 1979, belongs to one of the model’s most coveted categories. Reference 18039 was introduced in 1978 as an evolution of the celebrated reference 1803, upgraded with the automatic calibre 3055 featuring a quick-set calendar and a sapphire crystal. Housed in an elegant white gold case, this example is distinguished by its ultra-rare jasper dial—an arresting deep monochrome green accented with subtle splashes of red, evocative of the colour most closely associated with Rolex.
While most jasper dials are crafted in rich red hues and paired with yellow gold cases, this white gold example featuring a green blood stone dial represents one of the rarest and most desirable configurations of the reference. Blood stone, a gemstone prized since antiquity, is believed to embody qualities of strength, stability, and protection—attributes that harmonize beautifully with the enduring character of the Day-Date itself.