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Rolex Day-DateChristie’s is thrilled to offer collectors a veritable feast of the model which has always been regarded as the ultimate precious metal Rolex, a worldwide symbol of affluence and success – the Day-Date. This richly diverse and carefully curated selection of Day-Dates includes some of the most beautiful of the special coloured lacquered and hardstone dial examples as well as the perennially sought after diamond-set models and rare early white gold and pink gold specimens. Among the following lots are stunning examples of gold Day-Dates with exclusive natural hardstone dials including coral, rich blue lapis lazuli, deep green malachite, and a modern platinum and diamond masterpiece Day-Date reference 18946 with meteorite dial. Day-Dates with hardstone dials were never available to the general public but were offered for sale only to Rolex’s best clients or upon request. Equally rare, are the famous vibrantly coloured lacquer ‘Stella’ dials of which a reference 18039 with sumptuous red dial and a reference 1803 with blue dial are included here.Production of the ‘Day-Date’ began in 1955 and was officially unveiled during the Basel Fair of 1956. The Day-Date along with its own specially designed bracelet became known as the ‘President’ in acknowledgement of the fact that the American President at the time, Dwight D. Eisenhower ‘Ike’, chose to wear a Day-Date as his personal watch. Only ever available in precious metals, the Rolex Day-Date is regarded by many people as ‘THE’ Rolex and is the model that perhaps most defines the Rolex brand worldwide. It is indeed quite remarkable in that in the almost 65 years since its conception, it has remained not only in constant production, but also enduringly popular through the decades up to and including the present day. Of course, the Day-Date has benefitted from technological advances in watchmaking and subtle adjustments to the original design, yet at the same time it has managed to remain timeless and, in common with all the world’s great design classics, it transcends fashion. For this important auction, Christie’s have sought out some of the rarities of the Day-Date model including examples of the classic 1970s reference 1803, one made in pink gold, the other in white gold. These are complemented by their white gold diamond-set stable-mate, the reference 1804. Other rarities to savour are the white gold Day-Date with wooden dial, a reference 18239 ‘Tridor’ with three-colour gold bracelet and a reference 19028 Oyster Quartz, discontinued in 2001 and recognized as among the most beautifully finished quartz movements ever produced by any manufacturer.ROLEXDAY-DATE WITH METEORITE DIAL, REF. 118205PROPERTY FROM A PRIVATE COLLECTION
ROLEX. A RARE 18K PINK GOLD AND DIAMOND-SET WRISTWATCH WITH SWEEP CENTRE SECONDS, DAY, DATE, BRACELET AND METEORITE DIAL
SIGNED ROLEX, OYSTER PERPETUAL, DAY-DATE MODEL, REF. 118205, CASE NO. Y115653, CIRCA 2002
Details
ROLEX. A RARE 18K PINK GOLD AND DIAMOND-SET WRISTWATCH WITH SWEEP CENTRE SECONDS, DAY, DATE, BRACELET AND METEORITE DIAL
SIGNED ROLEX, OYSTER PERPETUAL, DAY-DATE MODEL, REF. 118205, CASE NO. Y115653, CIRCA 2002
Movement: Cal. 3155, automatic, 31 jewels, signed
Dial: Meteorite, signed
Case: Screw down crown, screw back, 36 mm. diam., signed
With: 18k pink gold Rolex President bracelet and deployant clasp, overall length approximately 180 mm.
SIGNED ROLEX, OYSTER PERPETUAL, DAY-DATE MODEL, REF. 118205, CASE NO. Y115653, CIRCA 2002
Movement: Cal. 3155, automatic, 31 jewels, signed
Dial: Meteorite, signed
Case: Screw down crown, screw back, 36 mm. diam., signed
With: 18k pink gold Rolex President bracelet and deployant clasp, overall length approximately 180 mm.
Brought to you by
Alexandre Bigler
SVP, Head of Watches, Asia Pacific