Rolex Day-Date 18038 'Onyx Pinball'

Rolex Day-Date 18038 Onyx: A Stone Dial on the President

The 18038 is the Day-Date that brought Rolex's flagship into the modern era. Introduced in the late seventies, it was the first Day-Date with a quickset date, driven by the caliber 3055, and it kept the classic 36mm case, fluted bezel and President bracelet that define the model to this day.

This example comes from a period when Rolex still experimented freely with its dials. In those years a small number of Day-Dates left the factory with dials cut from natural stone, and onyx was one of them. A stone dial is fragile, difficult to cut thin enough and impossible to correct once made. Choosing one was a bold decision: a yellow gold Day-Date was already a statement, and whoever ordered this one went a step further, with a jet black onyx dial and diamond hour markers, the configuration collectors call Pinball. This piece dates from 1988 and comes with its original paperwork, but without a box.

Design & Movement
36mm 18k yellow gold Oyster case with fluted 18k yellow gold bezel, onyx dial with diamond hour markers, automatic caliber 3055 with quickset date. Fitted to the 18k yellow gold President bracelet.

Provenance & Condition
1988, with original paperwork. No box.

The Rolex Day-Date 18038 Onyx: from the years when Rolex still dared.

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Brand: Rolex
Model: Day-Date
Reference: 18038
Bracelet: 18k yellow gold President
Dial: Onyx (natural stone), diamond hour markers
Case: 18k yellow gold, fluted 18k yellow gold bezel
Dimensions: 36mm
Box: no
Paperwork: yes
Year: 1988