The President, The Dream, The One and Only.

Amongst the pieces we came through, there are utilitarian and tool-driven pieces; there are understated and sophisticated pieces; there are apparent and attention-seeking pieces, then there are pieces that presents to be one-of-a-kind in its aura. Certainly this is a true contender and carries an irreplaceable charm across all spectrums - unpolished, sharp, barely touched. 

The amount of this exact model, reference and configuration produced is still an enigma, believed to be less than 10 and none in this exact state has surfaced to market so to speak.

Today, I offer one of the pieces from my personal collection which is perhaps one of the most stunning and exceptional variants out of all Day-Dates since its inception in 1956, the very first time this particularly flawless configuration, condition and peripheries is offered to the public domain rather than heralding into a worldwide auction. The Mondani publication has featured various exceptionally rare Day-Dates with stone dials or Arabic language wheels, however neither both of them together nor in this reference. The legendary Ref. 18238 is introduced in 1988 with the advancement of scratch-resistant sapphire crystal and Cal. 3155 to provide a double quick-set function between day & date, offering the best mediator from vintage to modern. The 18238 is recognised as one of the most collectible neo-vintage models inserting the best vintage aesthetics and modern versatility. 

If you are a Day-Date collector, ultimately the collectibility of this series all depends on its dial and date configuration - the case and the bracelet have a set value on its own. The Day-Date series hosted over a hundred dials with some being incredibly exotic and extremely low-volume produced, such is the case with stone dials and many examples of those are filled with potential cracks. The Lapis Lazuli dial is far from ordinary which is requested through special-order at the time without a readily available catalog to set the timepiece aside, usually filled with cloudy blue speckles and stardust pattern; however this particular example is flawless from any cracks, tonality is clean as an array of royal blue hues waving across the entire dial. Famed for its depth in tone, texture and shimmer, the Lapis Lazuli dial has emerged as one of the most sought-after variants among all Rolex Day Dates ever produced. The beauty is perhaps the incomparably in-depth dial where a full exposure could never be read and relies on the ebb-and-flow motion between the timepiece, the owner and natural light.

Exclusively carrying its own esteem, this variation further boosts a Mark-I Arabic Dial which is only offered to the Middle East market by special order at the time, setting aside as a one-of-a-kind combination of all the most desirable factors with original Certificate of Guarantee stamped ‘527’ Area Code and its corresponding retailer, matching the factory origin to its UAE sales origin. The case, lugs, and bracelet are almost unworn and retain straight stretch from the bracelet. The set was completed with all accessories intact from the date of sales in 1995 til today, making it an even harder opportunity to acquire a full collectors’ set. I’m honestly not sure once this is passed on to its new owner when a piece like this will surface again in the market. The last comparable model appeared almost 110K with less-desirable English date wheel in Chrono24. 

When it comes to a piece in this state, there really isn’t many words to describe the beauty, depth and presence. If you are a true collector of Day Dates, you will know. I’ll let the photographs do the talking and we will leave the piece to speak for its own esteem.