Rolex Day Day 18038

[Nathanjmarcus00]

First post!

Just copped a Rolex DD 18038. Just wanted to post some pictures here to make sure it’s authentic.

[996marty]

No pictures yet

[Nathanjmarcus00]

Attached

[Nathanjmarcus00]

Originally Posted by 996marty

No pictures yet

Just posted.

[Nathanjmarcus00]

The dial & strap are aftermarket. I want to authenticate the case, sapphire, date wheel, and day wheel

[huncho]

regardless of authenticity that case and bezel has been completely destroyed. don't wanna be that guy but there are tons of cleaner examples of this same watch, was it just a really good deal or?

[racerx]

Copped.

[Nathanjmarcus00]

Originally Posted by huncho

regardless of authenticity that case and bezel has been completely destroyed. don't wanna be that guy but there are tons of cleaner examples of this same watch, was it just a really good deal or?

Paid $6.5k for the case. Don’t see anything really close to that.

Also can you please tell me where it looks bad? The bezel and case looks fantastic in person.

[huncho]

Originally Posted by Nathanjmarcus00

Paid $6.5k for the case. Don’t see anything really close to that.

Also can you please tell me where it looks bad? The bezel and case looks fantastic in person.

the edges and tips of the lugs are completely rounded. the fluted bezel is barely fluted. this is what a fluted bezel is supposed to look like

https://tropicalwatch.com/watches/z1st
https://tropicalwatch.com/watches/jbe0

[Nathanjmarcus00]

Understood. Looks good enough to my eyes especially at the price point. Can you help with authentication?

[Order 72]

Originally Posted by huncho

the edges and tips of the lugs are completely rounded. the fluted bezel is barely fluted. this is what a fluted bezel is supposed to look like

https://tropicalwatch.com/watches/z1st
https://tropicalwatch.com/watches/jbe0

My word that is attractive, very fine example, looked at the listing

[huncho]

Originally Posted by Nathanjmarcus00

Understood. Looks good enough to my eyes especially at the price point. Can you help with authentication?

i'm not really an expert on authenticating cases but i mean even the markings you posted have been polished off, all that's left is just the shape of them. overall it looks fine but it'll be hard for anyone to confirm 100%. the fakes that existed in that era were horrible and are pretty obvious to spot out though. if you bought it from a reputable dealer i wouldn't worry

[Nathanjmarcus00]

If anyone has any idea, please let me know

[miamiclay]

Pics of the engravings between the 6 and 12 lugs would help, and you should get pics of the caseback inside and the movement. Also, it couldn’t hurt to have a jeweler test the case and bezel to confirm they are 18K.

As huncho points out, most fakes of this era are easy to spot - Most likely the case is genuine, just in terrible condition. If you could swing $8K, you could find a much nicer example with a genuine factory dial.

Interesting custom dial, I’ve not seen that type before.

[ronricks]

Originally Posted by Nathanjmarcus00

Also can you please tell me where it looks bad? The bezel and case looks fantastic in person.

Case has been butchered by the polishing wheel. It can be fixed but isn’t cheap. Not sure why you are worried about the sapphire and day/date wheels those are replaceable parts. To get this watch properly sorted a full service plus fixing the case plus bezel recut plus new sapphire plus new dial is going to add to your all in cost and would have been cheaper to just buy one in better condition.

[springer]

I don't see anything to indicate the watch is fake.

[oysterfisher]

Originally Posted by springer

I don't see anything to indicate the watch is fake.

+1
seems to be a usual 18038 with a "linen finish" refinished dial.
Date/Day-wheels seems to be correct and just a bit "misplaced" with that goofy dial. Sapphire crystal could be AM, cause the magnifier is looking strange and not like a genuine one.
Regarding the case you will need to open it up and post caseback inside engravings and engravings between lugs to clarify. There are pretty good HK fake cases around.

[WatchTimes]

That case has had a rough life....

[Calatrava r]

I would agree authentic or not, the watch is in poor condition. As much polishing as it has had, one would assume the case is real. Why polish a fake?

[MrMercedes]

The dial is not original....I would not buy this watch

[crowncollection]

Need to see the case engravings. Looks authentic but over polished.


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[JoseR]

Just take it to a Rolex AD and you'll have your answer.

[johnliley]

Originally Posted by Nathanjmarcus00

Attached

Little bit buttered up I'd say. Probably authentic I would pass personally.

Thanks