Day-Date Ref. 18038 Chocolate

ROLEX, OYSTER PERPETUAL, DAY-DATE, REF. 18038, CHOCOLATE DIAL, FULL-SET

ICONEEK price: SOLD

Iconeek is proud to present here a very unusual and rare version of the glamorous Rolex Day-Date: a Chocolate dial Ref. 18038.

From the original owner, the present Day-Date, Ref. 18038, was bought in Switzerland, Montreux on February 1987.

Under ref. 18038, we find an extremely attractive, water-resistant, self-winding, 18K yellow gold wristwatch with center seconds, day, date, chocolate Stella dial, French calendar, gold  bezel and bracelet with concealed deployant clasp.

The Rolex Day-Date ref. 18038 remains true to the original design of the classic ref. 1803, but it features an updated case construction, water resistant to 100m, and a movement upgrade. « The most useful upgrade for this reference was the addition of a single quick-set date (not day) function, in which one could change the date without continuously advancing the hands. A wide variation of dial configurations were offered with this reference, but compared to its predecessors, the edge of the dial was no longer sloped downwards; instead, they were flat. Also, starting with this reference, the crystal was changed to sapphire for better durability. As the Day-Date has long held the connotation of the watch of choice for politicians, world leaders, and other high-profile personalities, Rolex was quick to mention upon this reference’s release that the day indicator was available in up to 25 languages » courtesy of Phillips.

Presented in 1978, reference 18038 introduced the quick-set date function (made possible with the caliber 3055, 28’800 mph) and sapphire crystal – two upgrades from reference 1803, which was fitted with an acrylic crystal and did not allow the wearer to swiftly change the date by pulling out the crown halfway.

The model comes with a three-body construction: a solid 18K polished and brushed tonneau-shaped case, screw-down case back and crown, gold fluted bezel, a flat sapphire crystal with cyclops lens for the date. The case no. 88653374 and reference 18038 are deeply engraved between the lugs. The inside back is engraved 18000. Under the glass, a superb and attractive rare chocolate color dial with applied gold Baton indexes, luminous gold baton hands, a sweep center second, a aperture for the day at 12, an aperture for the date at 3, an outer minute and second railway division with 5-minute luminous dots. The calendar is in French. The watch is powered by a caliber 3055, mechanical, rhodium plated, certified chronometer, with hack mechanism, shock absorbers, straight-line lever escapement, Breguet hairspring, monometallic balance with Microstella timing screws, adjusted 5 positions and temperature, self-winding, and 27 jewels.  The 18K yellow gold Rolex Jubilee bracelet is fitted with endlinks no. 49 and concealed gold deployant clasp engraved no. 8386.

The great watch comes with a fitted Rolex presentation box and an original guarantee. The gold original Jubilee bracelet has an approx. overall length of 180 mm, without signs of wear.  Dial, case, movement and bracelet are signed.

Hard to find on the second hand market in such condition and complete, the present Day-Date also features a rarely seen Chocolate color dial, much sought-after by collectors worldwide.

Condition: 9/10,  some light miss of painting around the five-minute luminous dots, otherwise in extremely good overall condition