Introduction
A legendary timepiece with an unrivaled history, the Rolex Day-Date has earned its place as "The Ultimate Watch of Prestige" from its decades on the wrists of the world's most influential people. Released in 1956, the Day-Date quickly became synonymous with luxury, prestige, and exclusivity thanks to being the watch of choice for the world's athletes, visionaries, and world leaders alike. Only ever constructed of precious metals, the Day-Date's aesthetic is that of sheer elegance and grace. Aside from the beautiful array of dial options that have been available over the decades, the Day-Date's most iconic piece of design is its three-piece "Presidential" or "President" bracelet. Forming the bedrock of its design, the Presidential bracelet has become synonymous with Rolex's flagship collection and their desire to create the very best and most iconic watches that the world has ever seen. With its timeless design and inescapable impact on horology, the Day-Date stands as a vivid reminder of just how successful they have been in realizing that very mission.
Loupe This Scorecard
Grade
M 8.5
Status
Vetted & Approved
Included
Watch Only
Est. value range
$10,000 – $15,000
The Details
Brand
Rolex
Dimensions
36mm
Model
Day-Date
Movement
Automatic cal. 3055
Reference
18038
Bracelet
18kt yellow gold President bracelet
Year
1986
Condition
Excellent
Material
18kt yellow gold
Included
Watch only
Dial Color
Birch wood or "Burl" (Brown)
THE DIAL
Fashioned from a polished piece of birch wood, this ref. 18038's dial sports a swirling pattern thanks to a naturally occurring deformity that impacted its growth, known as a burl. This pattern makes for a wonderfully unique and luxurious backdrop for the ref. 18038's handset and indices and makes each example unique.
THE CONSTRUCTION
Boasting an 18kt yellow gold construction, this example features Rolex's lesser-known 'Bark finish' on its bezel and bracelet, a finish that is, as its name suggests, designed to look like the bark of a tree - the perfect match for this example's burl dial.
TIMING MACHINE READOUT
This reading was taken (crown down) with a ONEOF Accuracy Boutique Edition timing machine at time of cataloging. It is provided as a courtesy only, and shall not be construed as a warranty or guarantee of any kind. Please refer to our terms and conditions of sale for more information.
Condition
Watch is in excellent overall condition. Case and bezel exhibiting minor suface wear including small scratches and marks. Original burl wood dial in near-mint condition without any visible signs of wear. The bark bracelet has 24 links, 5 of which are removable. There is little stretch. Please Note: The watch is an 18038 that has a bezel and bracelet from an 18078. It was common in period that customers could request different bezels, dials and bracelets from their Rolex retailers.
Our Perspective
Featuring a tree-inspired bark finish and a wooden dial, this Day-Date is a dendrologically-inspired piece of watchmaking that celebrates nature and everything it provides us with.
Sam Hines
Managing Director
