Rolex
Reference 118238 Day-Date | A yellow gold and diamond-set automatic wristwatch with day, date, bracelet, and meteorite dial, Circa 2006
Lot Closed
March 31, 06:59 PM GMT
Estimate
20,000 - 40,000 USD
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Read more.Lot Details
Description
Dial: meteorite, diamond-set
Caliber: cal. 3155 automatic, 31 jewels
Case: 18k yellow gold, screw down case back
Case number: D’675’737
Closure: 18k yellow gold Rolex President bracelet with folding clasp
Size: 36 mm diameter, bracelet circumference approximately 155 mm
Signed: case, dial and movement
Box: yes
Papers: yes
Accessories: Rolex presentation box with outer packaging, Official Chronometer Certification dated March 16th, 2006, leather card holder, booklets, and bezel protector
The Day-Date from Rolex was first introduced by Rolex in 1956, and is still a stalwart of the Rolex catalog. The reference 118238 is a classic and highly sought-after model from this prestigious line, commonly known as the “President.” Introduced in the 1990s, this reference features a 18k yellow gold case, maintaining the iconic day and date complications that have made the Day-Date series synonymous with luxury and prestige.
The 118238 is powered by the Rolex Caliber 3155, a self-winding mechanical movement known for its precision and reliability. Additionally, the model was the first to feature the ‘Double Quickset’ function. This convenient mechanism allows the wearer to adjust both the day and date independently of the time. Instead of manually rotating the hands around the dial until the day and date windows change, the wearer can simply rotate the winding crown in a secondary setting position. To adjust the date, turn the crown towards the 12-hour marker, and to change the day, rotate it towards the 6-hour marker. This straightforward, elegant, and efficient Double Quickset function continues to be a key feature in Rolex's current lineup.
What truly sets this current example apart is its meteorite dial—a rare and natural material derived from space rocks that have traveled through the universe for millions of years before landing on Earth. Rolex carefully selects and etches each meteorite dial, revealing the unique Widmanstätten pattern, a crystalline structure that makes every dial completely unique.