Rolex Day-Date President 18038

Reference 18038 is the archetypal 36mm Day-Date from the 180xx series, produced from approximately 1978 until 1988. This series is historically significant as it introduced two major technical modernizations to the collection. It is powered by the Rolex Caliber 3055, a 27-jewel automatic movement operating at 28,800 vph. This caliber’s key innovation was the ‘single quickset’ date function. The 36mm Oyster case is constructed from 18k yellow gold (8) with a fluted bezel (3) and was the first Day-Date generation to feature a flat, scratch-resistant sapphire crystal. Due to its modern features combined with a vintage case profile, the 18038 is considered a highly collectible and wearable transitional reference.