ROLEX. A VERY RARE DAY-DATE SIGMA DIAL. PRESIDENT. 18K YELLOW GOLD AND DIAMOND SET BEZEL AND DIAL.

AN ELEGANT AND VERY RARE ROLEX MEN'S AUTOMATIC BRACELET WATCH IN 18K YELLOW GOLD, WITH DIAMOND-SET BEZEL AND BAGUETTE DIAMOND-SET SIGMA DIAL Model: Day-Date - President Date: Circa 1990 Case reference: 18238 Movement: Signed, automatic, Cal. 3155 Dial: Signed, sigma dial, champagne, diamond-set on 18k yellow gold hour markers with a diamond baguette setting at the six and nine o'clock position, black outer minute division, solid gold stick hands with luminous insert, solid gold centre seconds hand, day aperture at the twelve o'clock position with a champagne calendar disk with a black day of the week in English, date aperture at the three o'clock position with a champagne calendar disk and black Arabic numerals, "σ T Swiss Tσ " at the six o'clock position Case: Signed, 18k yellow gold, 18k yellow gold diamond set bezel, screw-down crown, screw-down back, No. E44XXXX Bracelet: Signed, 18k yellow gold President bracelet, 18k yellow gold deployment clasp stamped 8385 Size: 36mm. "Sigma dials" were first produced in the early 1970s, as a way to identify dials with indexes and hands made from solid gold, and then fitting those dials in stainless steel or gold models. These dials are easily recognized due to the Greek sigma letters around the "Swiss" indications at the six o'clock position. However, only watchmakers that belonged to L'Association pour la promotion Industrielle de l'Or (APROIR), were allowed to distinguish their dials with these Sigma letters. The first Rolex Day-Date, later known as the Rolex President, was introduced into the market in 1956, just a few years before the founder of Rolex, Hans Wilsdorf, passed away in 1960. This watch had, for the first time, the day and the date displayed on the dial, and this watch model can also be known by two different references: 6510 with a domed bezel and 6511 with a fluted bezel. This model quickly became Rolex's flagship watch, available in 18k yellow, white, rose gold, and platinum until 1959. This watch model was not known as the Rolex President until early 1966 when Rolex used the name 'President' for the first time in advertising this model. To this day there is uncertainty as to whether Rolex wanted to refer to the bracelet or to the entire watch with the name President, but nevertheless, the name has stuck for the watch model itself since then. Our watch carries the reference 18238 making it of the was the fourth generation of this model of Rolex watch since it was launched in 1956. The 18238 model was introduced to the market in 1988 and carries an improvement to the movement, using the caliber 3155. Additionally, this was the first time that a movement had a double quickset function for the day and the date, as well as the escapement being attached to a double bridge.Click here to share: