Rolex Day-Date 36 - Ref. 18038 (1988)

Heritage & Design

Introduced in 1956, the Rolex Day-Date was the first self-winding, waterproof chronometer wristwatch to display both the day of the week in full and the date. Known as the “President”, it has become one of Rolex’s most recognisable models. The Ref. 18038, introduced in the late 1970s, brought technical improvements including a sapphire crystal and quickset date function while retaining the traditional 36mm design.

Case & Details

This Day-Date features a 36mm case crafted from solid 18ct yellow gold with a fluted gold bezel. Its champagne dial features applied diamond hour markers, a day display at 12 o’clock and date window at 3 o’clock. A sapphire crystal with Cyclops magnifier protects the dial, while the 18ct yellow gold President bracelet completes the design.

Movement & Provenance

Powered by the Rolex calibre 3055 automatic movement, featuring a quickset date function and an approximately 48-hour power reserve. Presented in exceptional New Old Stock, unworn condition with box and papers, circa 1988. Finding a solid gold Day-Date of this age in such preserved condition is particularly uncommon and highly regarded by collectors. As with all vintage timepieces, we do not recommend wearing this watch in or around water, regardless of its original water resistance rating. For complete peace of mind, this timepiece is accompanied by our 24 month J. Farren Price warranty.

The following guide explains the condition terms used throughout our pre-owned and vintage watch collection.

• New
  Brand-new and unworn, supplied by J. Farren Price as an authorised dealer with the applicable manufacturer warranty.
• New Old Stock (NOS)
  An unworn watch from an earlier production period. Minor storage or handling marks may be present.
• Mint
  An exceptional pre-owned example presenting in near-new condition, with no visible wear.
• Excellent
  A very well-preserved watch showing only light signs of careful use.
• Very Good
  A well-presented watch showing normal signs of use, including minor scratches or surface wear.
• Good
  A watch showing more noticeable signs of regular use and age, while remaining presentable.

Vintage watches
Condition is assessed in the context of the watch's age. Natural patina and period-appropriate ageing may be present and do not necessarily detract from its grade.

Condition grades relate to cosmetic presentation. Originality, replacement parts, service history and accessories are described separately where known. Please refer to the individual product description and photographs for further details.

For more in depth information about any of our timepieces, feel free to contact our team directly on (08) 8223 2787 or visit our boutique to view in person.