Rolex Day-Date Ref. 18048 - 'Black Diamond'
When the Day-Date was released in 1956, it was the only complicated Rolex for sale. Hard to believe, but people didn’t want Rolex’s previous attempts at complicated wristwatches. All of that changed when President Dwight D. Eisenhower was spotted wearing the Rolex, and the watch became known as ‘The President’. An internationally known symbol of success and prestige, the Rolex Day-Date was available for many years on a strap or matching solid gold bracelet.
However, this is no ordinary ‘Day-Date’...
This present example is even more special by the presence of a special reference: The 18048. The dial features diamond indices with larger baguette cut sapphires at 6 and 9 - just to add more complication to it. The dial itself is a deep, rich black gloss with perfect cream colored lume plots next to each brilliant diamond. The bezel has been replaced by one made in - you guessed it - diamonds, and all typeface and logos are done in yellow gold to match the case.
Beyond the dial, this 18048 is fitted to the iconic yellow gold Presidential bracelet, making this piece a stunner with quick-set date to boot. The condition is truly exceptional throughout, and the diamonds that Rolex chooses to use for its watches are of the highest quality and play off beautifully against the oxidation of the yellow gold brilliantly. The concealed clasp Presidential has almost zero signs of stretch, and the case is well preserved to and is truly one of the best we have ever seen on a Day-Date model from this era - which would also explain the exceptional condition of the dial, bezel, and handset.
We have been fortunate to have quite a few special Rolex models here at Oliver & Clarke, but this among our favorites for its sheer expression of mastery that Rolex has put on full display.
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Shipping & Returns
At Oliver & Clarke, domestic shipping is on us! If you are international and require a quote – please feel free to reach out to us at info@oliverandclarke.com so we can get you squared away.
Returns (accepted within 3 days of initial delivery of your purchase) must be sent overnight or by priority international delivery, fully insured and paid for by the customer. For payments via Credit Card, a 5% restocking fee will be in place for any returns or cancellations in order to cover our processing fee. Of course, watches must be returned in the same condition as initially shipped.
If you happen to trade a watch with us, which we welcome, trades are final, except of course if the watch is grossly misdescribed or misrepresented.
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Each of our timepieces are vetted, evaluated, authenticated, and approved by our experienced team prior to sale. We guarantee the period-correctness of all components unless otherwise disclosed. We guarantee the authenticity of each watch in perpetuity.
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From Rolex & Patek Philippe, to Cartier & Audemars Piguet. As collectors first, we love the small details that separate the Submariner from Daytona and Calatrava from Royal Oak. This is why you'll find our curated assortment spans decades of generations of models and brands. We believe that watches don't just tell time, they tell history - and life is too short to wear a boring watch.
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