ROLEX, DAY-DATE REF. 18238 ‘STRING DIAL’, A GOLD AUTOMATIC WRISTWATCH WITH DIAMOND AND RUBY-SET DIAL

CASE NUMBER: W 206’212, MOVEMENT NUMBER: 7’024’364

Details

CIRCA: 1995
CASE MATERIAL: 18k yellow gold
DIAMETER: 36 mm.
BRACELET: Rolex 18k yellow gold President bracelet
DIAL: Gilt sunburst with ruby hour markers and a string of diamonds from the 1 o’ clock marker to the 11 o’ clock marker
MOVEMENT: Cal. 3155, automatic, 31 jewels
FUNCTIONS: Time, day, date
BUCKLE: Rolex 18k gold folding buckle stamped 8385


Lot Essay

Rolex introduced its flagship Day-Date 182XX-series, the fifth generation of Day-Dates, in 1988 with double quick-set function courtesy the Cal. 3155. This was first Day-Date reference with a double quickset-function, this allowed the user to adjust the date, day, and time independently. The Ref. 18238 replaced the 18038 and was produced right up to the year 2000 when it was replaced by the Ref. 118238.
The present Ref. 18238 is a ‘String Dial’ Day-Date – the gilt dial has a string of diamonds that runs alongside the minute trackers and sit between the chapter ring and the ruby-set hour markers. Attractive and offered in excellent condition, this is a watch that should appeal to collectors of gem-set Day-Date references.