A legendary timepiece with iconic history, the Rolex Day-Date has earned the title of the "Watch of Prestige" for a very good reason. Unveiled in 1956, it swiftly became the preferred choice for athletes, visionaries, and global leaders, leading to its enduring moniker 'the President.' This nickname persists even today, as the watch continues to serve as Rolex's flagship offering.
Released in 1977, the Rolex Day-Date Ref. 18038 introduced several upgrades that positioned it ahead of the competition. Among these enhancements were a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, a notable improvement over the previous plastic acrylic, and the "single quick" date set function. This innovation allowed the watch to rapidly cycle through the date without the need to backtrack, a step forward enabled by Rolex's new self-winding movement, the Rolex Cal. 3055.
Crafted from 18-carat yellow gold, this Ref. 18038 features the signature three-piece link "Presidential" bracelet and the classic 36mm case adorned with a fluted yellow gold bezel. While those aspects are to be expected, its stunning blue Lapis Lazuli dial is far from ordinary and sets this timepiece aside as one of the most stunning variants of the Ref. 18038 you can get.
Notably, there was a period in time between 1980 and 1990 during which Rolex conducted extensive experiments with an array of dials crafted from natural materials. Natural stones like lapis lazuli, malachite, and onyx gained recognition and collector's desire due to their limited production numbers. Famed for their deep blue tones and golden shimmer, Lapis Lazuli dials have become one of the most sought-after dial variants that Rolex has ever produced. Deriving golden sparkles thanks to the pyrite contained within this naturally occurring stone, Lapis Lazuli just so happens to be the perfect dial to set the Ref. 18038 aside as one of the best-looking yellow gold Day-Dates on the market today.
When it comes to a piece like this, words can hardly capture the depth and beauty of the dial, so I'll allow the images to speak for themselves.
