Rolex
1979 Rolex Day-Date (Ref. 18038) "Purple Dial" AKA "The Grape"
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 a 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, Nixon and Roosevelt, 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.
Rolex finds the perfect balance between luxury and functionality, and this 1979 Rolex Day-Date Ref. 18038 is proof of that. There is always rigorous testing of approval for any materials used by Rolex, therefore only the finest materials are used to make Rolex watches. The beautiful purple dial of this specific Day-Date originally came from the factory as blue, but due to age has organically changed to this beautiful purple coloration. These color changes sometimes occur in blue dials and can create beautiful and very uniques dial variants that are highly desired by collectors.
| Stock # | RLXDD18038D-79 | |
| Brand | Rolex | |
| Style | Day-Date | |
| Model | 18038 | |
| Serial | 63XXXXX | |
| Size | Men's | |
| Material | 18K Yellow Gold | |
| Dial | Purple | |
| Millimeters | 36 | |
| Strap | Rolex President 18k YG |
CASE & BRACELET
The strong 18k yellow gold case retains very even and full lugs, that exhibit very little wear from use. The 18k YG fluted bezel remains unpolished and is in excellent condition. The Rolex 18k YG President bracelet remains in wonderful condition, retains 23 links, and shows light stretch from wear.
DIAL & HANDS
The stunning purple dial remains in superb condition and coordinates beautifully with the gold of the case. The tritium lume plots have taken on a charming creamy coloration, under U.V. light inspection the 6 o'clock marker remains intact but shows some degradation, all other lume plots remain fully intact without degradation. The original tritium hands have aged darker than the dial which is common, and show no degradation or lume loss under U.V. light inspection. The metallic gold date wheel is era correct with open 6's and 9's.
ACCESSORIES
None. Watch is keeping time within spec and functioning flawlessly, previous service history is unknown.