Watches

Hard to believe - but the Datejust has been around since 1945. It is far older than its bigger and attention-hogging Submariner brethren. The Datejust was Rolex’s idea of the perfect everyday watch. The robustness of the Oyster case, combined with the elegance of an Oyster Perpetual. The 4-Digit Datejusts was the first series to become available with a myriad of dial colors and case and bracelet materials — something that has stuck with the Datejust name ever since. What the 4-digits watches do lack, is a quickset date — something that was resolved with the introduction of the 5-digit pieces in the late 1970s.  There are levels to collecting. For starters, this is a solid-gold Datejust which are rare to begin with - Rolex did not make a lot of these so it didn’t compete with its more expensive sibling, the Day-Date, which were exclusively produced in solid gold. Not only is this one such example of a solid gold Datejust, but this also houses a factory stone dial. Throughout the years Rolex produced a number of highly exclusive, limited production, stone dials. These were dials made from shaved down pieces of Onyx Malachite, Coral, and in this case - Lapis Lazuli. These dials were fragile and difficult to work with - but when they got it right they offer such depth and natural beauty it easy to see why collectors lust for these pieces. While these were also made as Day-Dates, we actually prefer the cleaner dial of the Datejust which allows for more of the stone to come through to a truly stunning effect. The piece that we have here, a Ref. 16018, features a blue 'Lapis Lazuli' dial, which belongs to a family of  watches produced with a series of rare and exotic stones, and are as rare as they are beautiful to behold. Produced by Rolex for a limited time, these dials were handmade by artisans — something we don't usually associate with Rolex and the sports watches that they are know for — and have always been coveted as some of the more collectible vintage Rolexes, full stop. This example remains in excellent, well preserved condition overall, with a very strong case that shows normal wear form age and use with one impression on the left case profile, a 'President' bracelet with the desirable signed hidden clasp in matching condition, and that standout, captivating blue stone dial — which in this case, exhibits a few hairline fractures hardly visible to the naked eye. This of course means that you can wear this one! While not the rarest of the stone dials, the pairing of the blue within the yellow gold case is always a pleaser and never short in demand. Condition: Case: Lightly previously polished retaining thick, symmetrical lugs and showing light wear throughout with one impression on bottom left lug profile. Bezel: Shows a light previous polishing to match the case and light wear. Dial: Faint hairline fractures visible between 5:00 & 8:00 positions. Shipping: All watches will be shipped via FedEx Insured Priority Overnight shipping. International shipping will be shipped via FedEx International Priority Express, always fully insured. This service is included in the listed price and will not incur any additional fees. All watches are shipped 1-2 business days after receiving payment confirmation by Chrono24. We are unable to ship watches on Saturday or Sunday. Our Policy: We service or perform necessary maintenance to the extent necessary to all of our watches, unless otherwise noted. All watches are listed and sold running and functioning as intended. Our Guarantee: Through rigorous vetting of each watch offered, we’re able to guarantee authenticity of our pieces. Ultimately, your satisfaction is our mission, as is helping you get YOUR perfect watch. If you have any questions at all, we will get back to you ASAP. Each of our timepieces are vetted, evaluated, authenticated, and approved by our experienced team of experts and watchmakers prior to sale. We guarantee the period-correctness of all components unless otherwise disclosed. We guarantee the authenticity of each watch in perpetuity.

The Rolex Datejust is a true icon of modern horology. First introduced in 1945, it marked a milestone as the world's first wristwatch with a date function, showcased through a window on the dial. Its timeless aesthetics and functionality have made it popular among watch enthusiasts. Over the years, though updated in terms of machinery and slightly in appearance, it retains its classic elegance and is known for its durability and precision. The watch typically features a stainless steel case, although other versions exist in various metal combinations and sizes, retaining Rolex's hallmark fluted bezel and cyclops lens over the date.