Rolex Day-Date 18238 Rare Diamond Dial

[domthedon]

Hello all,

I bought a rolex Day-Date 18238 recently and would like to some background information on the dial as I am 99% sure it's not aftermarket but I can't find anything else like it with the same rub over set diamond configuration.

I am thinking these were a rare customer specific dial?

[IMG][/IMG]

Apologies if this is in the wrong section or anything.

[mdw3]

Rare to see them like this, but not factory.

[Lgear080]

Aftermarket

[HogwldFLTR]

This might have been better asked in the General forum as the 18238 isn't a particularly vintage watch. As to what others have said, there are a lot of Rolexes with after market diamond dials. Best thing to do is to look for examples of the dial for sale that you can authenticate as OEM and then you'll be able to make a true assessment. If you can't find one then you've got your answer.

[domthedon]

Well, I found this on eBay..

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1715668045...84.m1436.l2649

Seller is asking quite a premium and says they were only made as a custom dial. I'm not convinced it's aftermarket. If it is, will Rolex replace if it goes in for service?

[crowncollection]

There is indeed a setting that is authentic that looks like this, your photo is not good enough for me to tell if this one is authentic

[Lgear080]

One I've never personally seen... Does anyone have the catalog shot?

Unaware of round settings on authentic dials...

[crowncollection]

Originally Posted by Lgear080

One I've never personally seen... Does anyone have the catalog shot?

Unaware of round settings on authentic dials...

I don't have a catalogue but I know I have examined a bloodstone diamond dial in the same style and it was original

[domthedon]

Sorry guys I've posted multiple replies including another detailed picture of the dia but it seems to take forever and a day for a nod to approve my postsl. I have since spoke to Rolex myself and they have confirmed there is indeed a rub over set dial but they want to see it before confirming. It seems I have to wait over 24 hours for a mod to approve each post I make, pretty frustrating but bare with they will probably all come through at once.

So going on the assumption this is a gen Rolex dial. Surely this must have some value? The guy at Rolex says the diamond dials for this model start from £1,500 with the rub over set dials at £3,000+. It's a watch I'm going to keep but would be nice to know it's worth a bit of I ever decide to sell.

[JustinK]

Originally Posted by Lgear080

One I've never personally seen... Does anyone have the catalog shot?

Unaware of round settings on authentic dials...

Here you go. There are about ten different options offered but here are two close ups.

My catalog is from 1992.

[Lgear080]

There you have it

[sleddog]

Originally Posted by domthedon

Sorry guys I've posted multiple replies including another detailed picture of the dia but it seems to take forever and a day for a nod to approve my postsl. I have since spoke to Rolex myself and they have confirmed there is indeed a rub over set dial but they want to see it before confirming. It seems I have to wait over 24 hours for a mod to approve each post I make, pretty frustrating but bare with they will probably all come through at once.

So going on the assumption this is a gen Rolex dial. Surely this must have some value? The guy at Rolex says the diamond dials for this model start from £1,500 with the rub over set dials at £3,000+. It's a watch I'm going to keep but would be nice to know it's worth a bit of I ever decide to sell.

Sorry we are not at your beg and call to immediately approve your post the moment you posted. We do this voluntarily, and most work jobs aside from this.
Also, this post you made last took 5 hours to be moderated, and the two 'multiple posts' before it were approved within 8!
Again, so sorry for your frustration!

Take the time to relax, and eventually your posts will not need to be vetted, then you can enjoy what this place has to offer.
Without moderation, this place would not be the community it is.....

You've got all the answers you needed regardless, and from some of our esteemed knowledgeable members....
Until then, smell the roses Dom.

[domthedon]

Ah, excellent! Thanks so much JustinK. Knew it couldn't have been an aftermarket! So does anybody have any idea what this watch would be worth with this dial roughly?

Also, the watch is an L serial which apparently put it in the 89/90 bracket. I read somewhere recently that these online serial lists aren't very accurate, so it could actually be a 92 or younger perhaps?

@sleddog sorry for being so impatient. Appreciate your time and effort! I did post a few other posts, none of them seem to have come through? Thanks for all the input guys.

[Lgear080]

Roughly $10.5-11k.

This is a situation where box and papers matter a lot.

[domthedon]

I think the U.S. and UK markets differ quite significantly based on the figure you just mentioned. 11,000 USD is approx. £7000. I can't find anything for sale below £8,500 personally in the UK. With this dial I'm guessing this must be worth £10,000 at least? I have the box but no papers. I'm going to send it in for service though, that should aleviate the papers issue with a two year guarantee.

[Lgear080]

In my opinion you may want to sell the dial separately... As that's
Where all of the value (outside of the watch itself) is stored.

the service papers will add value, but cannot replace the original
Docs. You're correct on valuation - uk values are about 10-15%
Higher than us.

[RLXSTR]

I have this dial in a Day Date right now. 1994 model Ref 18238 and the dial is factory as I'm familiar with the rarity. Even though in the catalog it's listed as white, it is more of a cream color. Most of the bezel sets were on stone/speciality surfaces than painted dials.

Originally Posted by domthedon

Sorry guys I've posted multiple replies including another detailed picture of the dia but it seems to take forever and a day for a nod to approve my postsl. I have since spoke to Rolex myself and they have confirmed there is indeed a rub over set dial but they want to see it before confirming. It seems I have to wait over 24 hours for a mod to approve each post I make, pretty frustrating but bare with they will probably all come through at once.

So going on the assumption this is a gen Rolex dial. Surely this must have some value? The guy at Rolex says the diamond dials for this model start from £1,500 with the rub over set dials at £3,000+. It's a watch I'm going to keep but would be nice to know it's worth a bit of I ever decide to sell.