Rolex Day-Date Ref. 18038 - 'Pinball' Dial 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.
This particular Day-Date, a Reference 18038, features one of the rarest dials ever fitted to an normal production, or 'on-menu' Day-Date. It is sunburst champagne in color but instead of your typical 'stick' or 'baton' indices, it features applied, solid yellow gold plots everywhere except the 6:00 and 9:00 positions, where there are rectangular indices. The resulting silhouette is more reminiscent of what you would find on something like the 'nipple dial' on the Submariner or GMT of the era! The dial itself remains in outstanding, seemingly-flawless condition, with fully-intact and evenly aged Tritium plots and a perfectly matching handset. The case is unpolished and shows normal signs of wear with only a few minor impressions and blemishes. The ubiquitous 'fluted' yellow gold bezel is also unpolished and retains crisp factory finishing. Last but not least, the matching 'President' bracelet is in matching unpolished condition and show matching normal wear with a few minor blemishes and virtually no 'stretch' to speak of.
This then, is a wildly rare piece, enhanced with an always handy 'quickset' date function, and the allure of an engraving on its caseback. It's a must if you are looking to add a Day-Date to a collection of many, or simply snag a sneaky rare piece that might not look like it from ten feet away.
Condition Report & Details
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Every Oliver & Clarke timepiece comes with a one-year mechanical warranty starting from the date of delivery. We ensure all watches are in wonderful working condition and are ready for daily wear. Many have been fully serviced by our team of watchmakers.
Please note:
- Due to the vintage or antique nature of many of our watches, they may not keep time as accurately as when new, nor as precisely as quartz or electronic devices.
- We do not guarantee water resistance and do not warranty against moisture or water damage. Deliberate exposure to water or steam is not recommended.
Warranty Exclusions:
- Internal or external damage caused by accidents, mishandling, abuse, modifications, or services performed by anyone other than our authorized personnel.
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- We guarantee the period-correctness of all components unless otherwise stated.
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