Few watches make a statement like a solid-gold Rolex.

This anachronistic blend of technical design and functionality with a precious-metal case material is a polarizing one, and depending on how it’s worn (and indeed, by whom), can send very different signals — and we'll just leave it at that!

So-called “five-digit” Day-Dates (reference variants with five digits) are a quintessential staple of the “neo-vintage” era. These models showed up in the late ‘70s and offer the added functionality of a higher-beat movement for accuracy and a quick-set date mechanism. They retain the classic 36mm case proportion of their predecessors and have similar variation for dial, bezel, and bracelet configurations. Luminous models also retain tritium material, offering tremendous opportunities for unique characteristics of patina.

This particular example, a Reference 18038, dates to circa 1979 and features a 36mm 18k yellow gold Oyster case, a magnified sapphire crystal, a signed crown, a matching yellow gold President bracelet, and highly coveted Lapis Lazuli dial with framed day and date windows, a Spanish day wheel.

When only a gold Rolex will do, this Day-Date is it — just with a bit of added flair!