Day-Date Ref. 18038 Blue

ROLEX, OYSTER PERPETUAL, DAY-DATE, REF. 18038, SUNBURST BLUE DIAL, BOX & PAPERS

ICONEEK price: SOLD

Iconeek is proud to present here a rare and highly attractive version of the glamorous Rolex Day-Date: a blue dial Ref. 18038.

Fresh to the market, the present Day-Date, Ref. 18038, was bought in Switzerland on December 21st 1977.  Under ref. 18038, we find an extremely attractive, water-resistant, self-winding, certified chronometer, 18K yellow gold wristwatch with center seconds, day, date, sunburst blue dial, French calendar, gold fluted 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 watch department.

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 Oyster case, screw-down case back and Oyster crown, gold fluted bezel, a flat sapphire crystal with cyclops lens for the date. The case no. 5331498 and reference 18038 are deeply engraved between the lugs. The inside back is engraved 18000. Under the glass, an attractive and rare blue 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 27 jewels, hack mechanism, shock absorbers, straight-line lever escapement, self-compensating Breguet hairspring, monometallic balance with Microstella timing screws, adjusted 5 positions and temperature, self-winding.  The 18K yellow gold Rolex President bracelet is fitted with endlinks no. 55 and concealed gold deployant clasp engraved no. « B ».

This great watch comes with a fitted Rolex presentation box and an original guarantee. The gold original President  bracelet has an approx. overall length of 170 mm, without few signs of wear in places.  Dial, case, movement and bracelet are signed.

128 grams of pure pleasure to see life in blue!

Condition: 8.5/10,  some light signs of wear in places, in working condition, water-resistancy has been checked, great dial, box and paper