There’s always a moment of hesitation in the office whenever we’re about to list an Onyx dial Day-Date. Not because of the watch itself; but because we know exactly what’s coming next.

Few watches in our collection generate as much attention as an Onyx Day-Date. The moment one appears, our inbox fills with messages from collectors hoping to secure it before it goes live. But that’s not how we do things. Every Onyx Day-Date goes straight on the website, giving everyone an equal chance at owning one of Rolex’s most coveted stone-dial configurations.

And it’s easy to understand the obsession. Among all stone dials, Onyx reigns supreme. Its deep, uninterrupted black surface gives the Day-Date an elegance that feels both understated and impossibly bold at the same time. Unlike standard dials, stone dials are naturally fragile, and many have developed cracks or imperfections over the years. Most Onyx Day-Dates are found in later 182XX references, while this example is housed in the earlier ref. 18038 case and features the coveted “T Swiss T” signature at 6 o’clock. In other words: a rare MK1 Onyx dial.

Dating back to 1986, this ref. 18038 embodies everything that makes the vintage Day-Date so iconic: a 36 mm 18K yellow gold Oyster case, matching fluted bezel, and the unmistakable President bracelet with concealed Crownclasp. Powering the watch is Rolex’s cal. 3055 automatic movement, featuring the practical single quickset function for independently adjusting the date.