Rolex Day-Date Ref. 18038 - Oxblood 'Stella' Dial Retailed by Van Cleef & Arpels Unpolished

When the Day-Date was released in 1956, Rolex had made numerous attempts to capture the market with more complicated timepieces such as the Ref. 6036, the Ref. 8171, and the Ref. 6062, but it seemed like buyers were not particularly fond of complicated Rolexes. All of that changed when President Dwight D. Eisenhower was spotted wearing one Rolex in particular: a Day-Date. The model has since become known worldwide as ‘The President’ and as a symbol of success and prestige. Simply put, this one stuck.

The Day-Date was available for many years on a leather strap with a matching gold buckle, but also on a solid gold bracelet (called a 'President' bracelet), like the example that we have here.

However, this isn't your run of the mill Day-Date...

The piece that we have here features a highly elusive dial that is part of a sub-family of Day-Dates produced with what collectors call, 'Stella Dials.' It is believed that these colorful dials were named after the famous artist Frank Stella to honor his vibrant paintings, or another theory: named after the Latin word for star which is also “Stella.” These dials are as rare as they are beautiful to behold and were sold for a very limited time, in part due to the complexity to produce them. They were handmade by artisans who painstakingly applied many layers of lacquer, which give these dials their iconic depth. The process was so complex, that many dials cracked during manufacturing leading to their rarity.

This example is a Reference 18038 dating to circa 1979 and comes to us in outstanding overall condition. The case, matching 'President' bracelet, and characteristic 'fluted' yellow gold bezel all remain in unpolished condition and show just light signs of wear throughout with no apparent damage. The stunning lacquered 'oxblood' dial inside is beautifully preserved and free of any fractures. The Tritium plots remain fully-intact, are evenly patinated, and match the handset perfectly.

Last but not least, this piece features a small stock engraving on the inner clasp, part of which reads "VCA" which in the world of watches and jewelry denotes that this piece was retailed by Van Cleef & Arpels. A very, very cool cherry on top of an already impressive piece.

Never in short demand, Stella-dialed pieces have always been coveted as some of the more collectible vintage Rolexes, full stop. This one has some extra spice and we'll bet you don't see another anytime soon.