Rolex “18038 Oxblood Stella” Day-Date

Description

Introduced in the late 1960s, and produced throughout the 70s and 80s, the Rolex “Stella” dial Day-Dates are somewhat of an enigma, and considered the most desirable and collectible of the Rolex Day-Date line.  In the late 1960s, as the story goes, Rolex experimented with colorful lacquer dials as a way to reach more of the Asian and Middle Eastern market.  Rolex produced them in a variety of colors and across a variety of references.  The example offered here their first “quickset” model reference 18038, fitted with an “Oxblood” maroon-color dial, and produced cira 1979.

This Rolex “Stella” Day-Date is in nice vintage condition.  The case remains thick and even, appears unpolished, and has developed a nice, warm patina.  The original Stella-lacquer dial is in great condition, showing only very minor hairlines to the lacquer surface around the edges of a few of the markers, visible under a loupe.  Further, the original tritium lume remains in tact on both dial and hands, aged to a nice yellow color.  The watch comes fitted on a Rolex Swiss “Presidential”-style bracelet, has very light stretch, and will fit an approximate 7-7.2″ wrist (5 removable screws).