Rolex

1979 Rolex Day-Date 18K YG (Ref. 18038) Tiger Eye Stone Dial

The Rolex Day-Date is one of the most iconic and beautiful watches in the Rolex catalog. The Rolex Day-Date earned the nickname "President" after it had been rumored that President Dwight Eisenhower began wearing one.  In reality, Eisenhower wore a Rolex 18K yellow gold Oyster Perpetual Datejust which Rolex gifted to him in 1950. However, the nickname President stuck and is quite fitting for the Day-Date as Presidents Kennedy, Johnson, Ford, Reagan, and Nixon all wore the Rolex Day-Date model. It has always been a symbol of status and luxury as the Rolex Day-Date is only made in precious metals most commonly 18k yellow gold and possesses both the day and date complications within the movement. 

On an extremely limited basis, Rolex manufactured timepieces featuring exotic materials. Such as dials made from various minerals, woods, and stone including; black onyx, burl wood, lapis lazuli, opal, birch, tiger eye, fossil, coral, aventurine, and ferrite, among others… These exotic variants are always strikingly vivid with a minimalist design and each exotic variant was produced in very limited numbers. With rarity varying between materials, the more rare the material was, the less Rolex produced.

In 1977 Rolex updated the iconic Day-Date model aka the "President" with the ref. 18038, which featured some major changes to the Day-Date line of watches. The first of the major updates was the introduction of a sapphire crystal, but the biggest improvement was the introduction of the Cal. 3055 movement. This new and improved movement featured a quick-set date function within the winding crowns second position, landing the ref. 18038 with the nickname the "Single-Quick" Day-Date.

Good examples of these exotic Rolex Day-Date references have become exponentially harder to find because of a cult following surrounding them, and a lack of circulation due to the coveted value each unique dial retains. In other words, collectors love these watches and rarely sell them, so when they come up for sale it’s always special.

Stock #
RLXDD18038-2
Brand Rolex
Style Day-Date
Model 18038
Serial 62XXXXX
Size Men's
Material 18K Yellow Gold
Dial Tiger Eye Stone
Millimeters 36
Strap 2pc Handmade Leather Strap

 

CASE & BRACELET

The excellent 18K yellow gold case retains thick and symmetrical lugs that exhibit minimal signs of previous use and polishing. The 18K yellow gold fluted bezel is in clean overall condition showing light signs of previous polishing and almost no signs of use. The watch comes supplied on a 2pc handmade leather strap.

DIAL & HANDS

The original tiger eye stone dial is a true one-of-a-kind work of art, featuring a multitude of contrasting light and dark ribbons of color within the natural grain of the stone, the stone does features two extremely subtle hairline cracks that are invisible to the naked eye and have no effect of the aesthetic of the watch. The solid yellow gold hands are in excellent condition. The day wheel is Spanish and the date wheel is original with "open" 6's and 9's.

ACCESSORIES 

None. The watch is keeping time perfectly, backed by a 1-year warranty on accurate timekeeping.