Rolex Day-Date 36mm - Ref. 18078

For sale is a Rolex Day-Date Ref. 18078 from 1978, crafted in 18k yellow gold and featuring a white Roman numeral dial, bark-finish bezel and a rare period-correct Jubilee bracelet with matching bark-finish centre links. 

The Case & Bezel
The 36mm yellow gold case gives the watch the classic proportions so closely associated with the Day-Date: substantial on the wrist, yet elegant enough to sit comfortably beneath a shirt cuff. The case presents beautifully, with well-defined lugs and a particularly attractive profile.

The bark-finish bezel is one of this reference’s defining details. Its finely textured surface resembles the irregular grain of tree bark, bringing a decorative quality to the gold that continues through the bracelet’s centre links.

The Dial
The white dial provides a clean backdrop for the applied yellow gold Roman numerals and matching hands. A fine black railway minute track frames the display, while the luminous plots have developed a warm cream tone, adding a subtle sense of age against the white surface.

The full day display at twelve and magnified date at three complete the familiar Day-Date layout. There is a pleasing balance here: the restrained dial gives the more elaborate goldwork around it room to be appreciated.

The Jubilee Bracelet
The most distinctive feature of this example is its 18k yellow gold Jubilee bracelet. A highly unusual pairing for a Day-Date, its five-piece link construction gives the watch a different character from the more familiar President configuration. Three rows of bark-finish centre links echo the bezel, creating a remarkably cohesive combination.

Both the case and bracelet date to 1978, a pleasing detail that hints at the original owner’s preference for a Jubilee over the customary President. With its matching bark-finish centre links, it feels like a considered choice, giving this Day-Date a more individual character.

The bracelet presents in excellent condition, with clearly defined texture across the centre links and a signed Rolex folding clasp.

The Movement
Powering the watch is Rolex’s automatic Calibre 3055, featuring 27 jewels and a single quickset date function. This allows the date to be adjusted independently of the hands, bringing a useful degree of convenience to this generation of vintage Day-Date.

Condition & Accompaniments
Offered in outstanding overall condition, this 1978 example combines the appeal of a bark-finish Day-Date with a bracelet configuration seldom encountered. Accompanied by its original Rolex box and manuals, it is a distinctive choice for a collector who appreciates the less conventional details of vintage Rolex.

Included with the watch: 
- Original Box: Yes
- Original Papers: No

Technical Data:
- Model: 18078
- Year: 1978
- Case material: 18k Yellow Gold
- Case diameter: 36mm
- Bracelet: Rolex Jubilee
- Bracelet material: 18k Yellow Gold
- Dial: White Roman
- Crystal: Sapphire