Rolex Day-date Wood Diamond string dial ref 18048 with Original Punched Guarantee Paper

IF you were living in West Germany in the 1980s and owned a Mercedes S-Class 8-cylinder 500 SEL, you would most likely have walked into a Rolex authorized dealer in Bonn (then the capital of West Germany) and asked for a wristwatch that matched the wooden dashboard of your Merc. You would probably have ended up with a wood-dial Rolex Day-Date!

 

But this S-Class driver went a step further: he added diamonds and ended up with the rare reference 18048—the designation for a Day-Date with a diamond-set bezel and diamond-set dial.

 

To put it in perspective: in 1984 (the year this piece was purchased), the list price of a yellow-gold ref. 18038 was 13,000 Deutschmarks. This ref. 18048, however, comes with its original invoice showing a price of 37,650 Deutschmarks—nearly triple the cost of a standard Day-Date due to the diamond setting.

 

The case is in lovely condition, and we particularly love the rarer riveted Oyster bracelet, which gives the Day-Date a distinct character. The bracelet is in excellent shape, with end links marked 76.

 

The wood dial features gold-printed text and an unusual detail: a single row of diamonds set toward the center of the dial. The day disc is in German.

 

Not only is it visually striking, but it is exceedingly rare—we have not encountered another one.

 

The punched guarantee paper shows a sale in Bonn, Germany, in 1984, and as noted, the original invoice is included and matches the guarantee paperwork.

 

The box is not included in the sale—we suspect it’s still in the glove compartment of that Mercedes S-Class!

 

This fine Day-Date, equipped with its single quickset movement, has been fully serviced by our watchmaker.

 

Ready to add some 1980s S-Class flair to your wrist? Get in touch and claim this unique Day-Date !

 

Specifications:

 

• Rolex Day-Date Reference 18048

• 36mm yellow gold case

• Factory diamond-set bezel

• Super rare wood dial , diamond set

• Serial 835xxxx, dating to 1984

• Punched guarantee paper stating sale in Bonn , Germany 1984

• German date disc

• 18 kt Yellow gold riveted Oyster bracelet ref 7206

• Original invoice matching the guarantee paper , stating sale price of 37.650 Deutsch mark

• Single quick set movement

• Fully serviced by our watchmaker

• One-year mechanical warranty

• Free worldwide FedEx Priority shipping