The Day-Date was launched in 1956, at Basel. It is one of Rolex’s most coveted classic luxury models, standing in deliberate contrast to the sports watches that would later dominate the brand’s identity. Known as the wristwatch worn by presidents, hence its celebrated nickname President, it was the first waterproof and self-winding chronometer wristwatch to offer a modern calendar with an instantaneous day display, spelt out in full in a window on the dial, in addition to the date.

Exclusively crafted in precious metals, very few watch models come close to the stature, eminence and timelessness of the Rolex Day-Date. Its association with statesmen, captains of industry and cultural icons only deepened its aura, transforming the model into a universal symbol of achievement and discretion. Over the decades, the Day-Date has remained an emblem of refinement, evolving gently while preserving the noble proportions and unmistakable presence that established its legend.

Introduced in 1991, the Rolex Day-Date reference 18206 features a 36 millimetre platinum case paired with a flat, elegantly understated bezel. The choice of platinum, the noblest of metals, lends the watch a discreet weight and quiet radiance that distinguishes it from its yellow and white gold counterparts. Housing Rolex’s calibre 3155, it allows the quick-set feature, making it notably practical and intuitive to operate, a technical advancement that marked a turning point within the Day-Date lineage.

The present example is further elevated by a superb turquoise lacquered dial, its vivid colour shimmering with remarkable depth beneath the smooth lacquer surface. Ten diamond indexes, eight round and two baguette, frame the display with a jewel-like brilliance that complements the vibrancy of the dial.

These particularities make it, without a doubt, one of the most attractive Day-Dates. Bright coloured lacquered dials such as this one are known to collectors as Stella dials, a term that evokes the star-like brilliance and daring chromatic palette that Rolex experimented with during one of its most artistically expressive periods. Stella dials in platinum Day-Dates are extraordinarily rare, and their luminous tones have become objects of cult fascination among connoisseurs.

The present example, preserved in excellent overall condition, stands as a striking reminder of this brief yet unforgettable chapter in Rolex’s history of dialmaking. Given its late production date and the vanishingly small number of platinum watches fitted with such dials, this watch is probably one of the very last Stella watches to leave the manufacture.

Uniting the gravitas of platinum, the unmistakable silhouette of the Day-Date and the exuberant beauty of a turquoise Stella dial, this reference 18206 embodies both the heritage and the daring spirit that define Rolex’s most iconic creations.