Rolex Day-Date 18038 'Golden Embroidery'

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The Day-Date with ‘Golden Embroidery’ dial is one of the finest examples of Rolex craftsmanship.A yellow-gold Day-Date is plenty special by itself, but sometimes we just want to go that extra mile. The ultra-rare ‘Golden Embroidery’ Day-Date offers one the most intricately designed dial options ever made by Rolex. Crafted from 18k yellow-gold, the open-worked and engraved dial features an elaborate floral motif and luxurious brilliant-cut diamond setting. Due to the alternating cut-outs, facets, and diamonds, the dial offers a mesmerising juxtaposition between light and shadow.This 18038 dates back to 1988 and comes in the classic Day-Date packaging: a beautiful 36 mm 18k yellow-gold case with a fluted bezel and a matching 18k yellow-gold President bracelet with concealed clasp. The watch houses Rolex’ caliber 3055 self-winding movement with a single-quickset function, allowing for the independent adjustment of the date disc. The watch is in excellent condition, with a super sharp case and exceptionally tight bracelet.

Introduction

Rolex Day-DateIn 1956, Rolex introduced one the most iconic watches ever made: the Day-Date. The Day-Date was the first waterproof self-winding chronometer certified wristwatch with a day and date function. And to top it off, it was only available in gold or platinum! Rolex also designed a new three-link bracelet, known as the ‘President,’ to pair with this special watch. With exception of the most modern executions, the Day-Date comes exclusively in a 36mm case.Reference 18xxxThe arrival of the 18xxx series Day-Dates in 1978 ushered in the first signs of the ‘modern’ watchmaking era for Rolex. These Day-Dates were the first regular production Rolex watches to receive a sturdy and scratch resistant sapphire crystal. To accommodate the new crystal, the iconic Oyster case had to be increased in thickness as well, giving the Day-Date a more modern look.Other significant developments were the change from the beloved pie-pan dials to the new flat dials and the unveiling of a brand new movement. The caliber 3055 introduced a single quickset function, which meant that the date could finally be adjusted separately from the time and date.Like its predecessors, the 18xxx Day-Dates were available with different bezel and case decorations. The most common references are:

  • Ref. 18026: Domed bezel (platinum)
  • Ref. 18028: Domed bezel
  • Ref. 18038: Fluted bezel
  • Ref. 18039: Fluted bezel (white gold)
  • Ref. 18046: Diamond-set bezel and index (platinum)
  • Ref. 18048: Diamond-set bezel and index
  • Ref. 18049: Diamond-set bezel and index (white gold)
  • Ref. 18078: Bark-finished bezel in yellow gold (usually paired with President bracelet with bark-finished centerlinks)
  • Ref. 18079: Bark-finished bezel in white gold (usually paired with President bracelet with bark-finished centerlinks)

Specifications

Shipping

Packages are generally dispatched within 2 days after receipt of payment and are shipped within the Netherlands by Registered Mail through the Dutch carrier PostNL and for other countries by Fedex. Consult us if you prefer another method of shipping. For most destinations tracking is available.