Rolex

Launched in 1965, the Day-Date has become one of the most enduring and successful lines for Rolex, appealing to both men and women, and being both formal and casual. It has provided a canvas for Rolex to experiment with multiple materials and finishes allowing the brand to be playful with many different metals, bezels and bracelets, and with dial finishes from hardstone, lacquer or gem set. The current watch dates from circa 1986 and is one of only a handful of the reference 18008 “Rainbow” Day-Date’s known to exist. Of those known to the market, each has worn a different dial type from fully pave diamond set, semi pave set with radial numerals and the current example, with a hand engraved textured yellow gold dial with ruby hour and diamond minute markers. All Ref 18008 have brilliant-cut diamond set lugs, and all have spectacular gem set bezels. The upper half of the bezel is set with baguette-cut rubies, with the lower half with sapphires. The elegant gradient effect of the bezel really needs to be appreciated in person, where one can observe the graduating of the sapphires and rubies across 8 stones on either side between 2 and 4, and 8 and 10 o’clock. This subtle change in vibrancy and intensity of the stones' colors are spectacular.

The current watch is offered by its original owner and is exceptional overall condition.