Rolex
Day-Date, Reference 18038 | A yellow gold wristwatch with day, date, bracelet and burl wood dial | Circa 1979
Auction Closed
November 10, 01:01 PM GMT
Estimate
15,000 - 20,000 CHF
Lot Details
Description
Dial: burl wood
Calibre: cal. 3055 automatic, 27 jewels
Movement number: 144'451
Case: 18k yellow gold, screw-down case back
Case number: 5'769'844
Closure: 18k yellow gold Rolex President bracelet and folding clasp
Size: 37 mm diameter, bracelet circumference approximately 182 mm
Signed: case, dial and movement
Box: no
Papers: no
Accessories: none
The Rolex Day-Date stands as one of the brand’s most luxurious wristwatches. The iconic model was originally released in 1956 as the first waterproof and chronometer-certified automatic wristwatch to display the date at 3 o’clock and the day of the week in full letters at 12 o'clock. Considered an everyday dress watch and worn by the most influential men and women of the century, the Day-Date was only available in precious metals.
The present timepiece is a 18k yellow gold reference 18038, standing as a good example of the timeless and iconic Day-Date aesthetic. What sets it apart and captures immediate fascination is its exquisite natural wood dial. The Rolex Day-Date collection is renowned for its wide range of dial options, and the presence of the wood dial on this watch is both extremely rare and a testament to its contemporary design. During the 1980s, a limited collection of exotic dials, including onyx, lapis lazuli, Makah Burl and birch to name a few, was released for a short period of time.
The harmonious blend of the woodgrain dial's complementary colors and the gold elements of the bracelet, case, and bezel creates a warm and pleasing combination.