{"product_id":"rolex-day-date-18038-black-dial-sharp-lugs-1984-serviced","title":"Rolex Day-Date 18038 Black Dial Sharp Lugs 1984 (Serviced)","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eRolex Day-Date 18038 in yellow gold with black dial, 8.5 million serial (1984), on alligator strap with gold-plated pin buckle, no box or papers\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eRolex Day-Date\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRolex is one of the most recognized watch manufacturers in the world, based in Geneva, Switzerland. The brand has been producing watches since the early 1900s and has built a reputation for making reliable, well-finished timepieces that hold their value better than most. Rolex controls a large portion of its own production, from movements to cases, which gives them tight quality control across the board. Their watches are widely collected, and the secondary market for them is consistently strong.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Day-Date was introduced in 1956 and was the first wristwatch to display both the date and the full day of the week spelled out on the dial. It has always been produced exclusively in precious metals, which separates it from most of the Rolex lineup. The 36mm case size was standard for the model for decades, and references like the 18038 represent the classic era of the Day-Date before the case was later updated to the 118238 in the 1990s. The ref. 18038 runs the caliber 3055, a movement Rolex produced during this period with a quick-set date function, which was a practical improvement over earlier movements that required cycling through 12 hours to set the date.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Day-Date 18038 in yellow gold with a black dial is a straightforward, clean configuration that has remained popular with collectors. Black dials on this reference tend to age well and the contrast against the yellow gold case is sharp without being flashy. These watches from the mid-1980s are now old enough to be considered vintage by most standards, and finding examples with well-preserved dials and cases in good original condition is becoming less common. The combination of the in-house movement, precious metal construction, and historically strong demand makes the Day-Date a practical choice for someone looking at the higher end of the vintage Rolex market.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eKey Details To Consider\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis Rolex Day-Date reference 18038 is a yellow gold example from 1984, identified by its 8.5 million serial number. The case presents exceptionally well for its age, with razor sharp lugs, clean factory bevels throughout, and a bezel that remains in excellent, near new condition. The overall case geometry is intact and all engravings and case numbers remain fully legible.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe original black dial is in pristine shape. The tritium hour plots are all present and undamaged, and the tritium hands match the dial closely, which is exactly what you want to see on a watch of this vintage. Finding an original dial in this kind of condition on a forty year old piece is increasingly uncommon.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe caliber 3055 movement was professionally serviced in September 2026 and is running properly. This is a solid, well-regarded automatic movement with a quick-set date function, and having a recent service on record adds real practical value.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe watch is presented on a new black alligator strap in 20\/16mm with a Rolex gold plated pin buckle, which suits the yellow gold case well. Overall, this is a genuinely clean, honest example of the Day-Date 18038 that wears its age gracefully without compromise to its core condition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n","brand":"Rolex","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56548947788081,"sku":"26-0141","price":12095.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0709\/5962\/8593\/files\/image_1_748f5565-f7c5-40d7-8092-ade418348c8a.jpg?v=1790751802","url":"https:\/\/bogossia.com\/products\/rolex-day-date-18038-black-dial-sharp-lugs-1984-serviced","provider":"Bogossia","version":"1.0","type":"link"}