Rolex. A very rare and unusual 18K gold, diamond, ruby and sapphire-set automatic calendar wristwatch with sweep centre seconds and bracelet
Lot 197

Rolex. A very rare and unusual 18K gold, diamond, ruby and sapphire-set automatic calendar wristwatch with sweep centre seconds and bracelet

SIGNED ROLEX, DAY-DATE, REF. 18048, CASE NO. 9'178'540, CIRCA 1986

Closed10 November 2014

Price Realised

CHF 118,750

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Rolex. A very rare and unusual 18K gold, diamond, ruby and sapphire-set automatic calendar wristwatch with sweep centre seconds and bracelet
Signed Rolex, Day-Date, ref. 18048, case no. 9'178'540, circa 1986
Cal. 3055 automatic movement, 27 jewels, diamond, sapphire and ruby-set dial, sweep centre seconds, window for date, aperture for day in English, tonneau-shaped water-resistant-type case, diamond-set bezel, screw back, 18K gold Rolex President bracelet, concealed deployant clasp, case, dial and movement signed
36 mm. diam.

Specialist note

With Rolex Service Center invoice dated 7 February 2014 and service guarantee card valid until 6 February 2016.

One of the most luxurious and outlandish variation of the day-date model, the present timepiece will never cease to mesmerize its lucky new owner with its sparkly dial and bezel. Produced in the late 1980s, this watch is one of Rolex's very first experiments with gem-set watches. Interestingly, the late 1980s are also the time Rolex first produced the Daytona with gem-set dial (the ultra-rare 6269 and 6270 references), which share with this timepiece the dial construction process and some details, such as the designations in the gold "cartouches". Possibly because the market might not have been yet ready for stylistic exercises as bold as these gem-set treasures, production of such pieces was extremely limited, and they are consequently highly sought-after collectibles and milestones in the most important Rolex collections worldwide.