Rolex Day-Date Ref. 18039 - Black 'Pumpkin' 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.
The Day-Date that we have here is a Reference 18039 from circa 1982 and is quite the looker. In addition to being white gold, which are significantly rarer than their yellow gold siblings, this Day-Date features an absolutely fantastic black dial. The Tritium plots remain fully-intact and exhibit a deep 'pumpkin' patina, which are complimented by a matching handset. The case is also outstanding. It remains unpolished, with thick and symmetrical lugs and shows normal signs of wear throughout with no notable blemishes or damage. This piece even retains it's factory caseback sticker and original white gold crown.
Additionally, this piece comes fitted to a South American 'President' bracelet, which matches the Spanish day disk nicely. The bracelet is in matching condition with virtually no 'stretch' to speak of.
This then, is a wildly cool piece for a multitude of reasons... It's white gold nature combined with that deep black dial amount to a very cool combination, yet is more restrained in its appearance relative to its yellow gold counterparts while still feeling special and 'elevated.'
This one is tough to beat!
Condition Report & Details
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Shipping, Returns, & Warranty
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.
- Our warranty is non-transferable.
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At Oliver & Clarke, we meticulously vet each watch to ensure its authenticity and quality. Your satisfaction is our top priority, and our mission is to help you find the perfect timepiece. If you have any questions, we are here to assist you promptly.
Our Guarantee:
- Each timepiece is thoroughly evaluated, authenticated, and approved by our expert team before it is offered for sale.
- We guarantee the period-correctness of all components unless otherwise stated.
- The authenticity of each watch is guaranteed in perpetuity.
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