This exceptional 1981 Rolex Day-Date President, reference 18078, is a particularly striking example of one of Rolex’s most iconic luxury watches, crafted entirely in solid 18k yellow gold and distinguished by its highly desirable bark finish bezel and President bracelet. The textured treatment gives the watch an unmistakably vintage character, contrasting beautifully against the polished and brushed gold surfaces and the warm champagne dial. 

What truly separates this example is its remarkable state of preservation. The case appears unpolished and remains exceptionally sharp, retaining strong, well-defined lines and the proportions collectors hope to find on a vintage gold Rolex. This is especially important on the reference 18078, as years of polishing can quickly soften the intricate bark texture that defines the model. Here, the bark finish remains deep, crisp, and pronounced across both the bezel and bracelet, allowing the original craftsmanship and dramatic texture to be fully appreciated.

The solid 18k yellow gold President bracelet completes the watch beautifully and gives it tremendous wrist presence, while the unusual bark treatment makes this considerably more distinctive than a conventional Day-Date of the period. The movement has been serviced by our watchmaker and is running well, making the watch ready to be worn and enjoyed. 

This Rolex 18078 is an exceptional opportunity for the collector seeking a vintage President with both character and condition.

The watch looks incredible and is ready to be worn! The serial on this watch begins with 9xxxxxx dating this watch to 1987.

The Details:

Case: 36mm 18 karat solid yellow gold case is in stunning condition and remains razor sharp and unpolished, the lugs are razor sharp. It shows honest signs of previous wear.

Bezel: 18 karat gold bark finish bezel which remains unpolished and razor sharp 

Dial/Hands: Original Rolex factory gold set dial in stunning condition with no distractions. Hands are original Rolex in attractive condition

Caseback: Nice original 18 karat yellow gold back in nice condition.

Movement: Rolex automatic movement which has been serviced by our watchmaker and is currently running +2 second per day.  

Bracelet/Strap: Factory solid 18 karat yellow gold president bracelet in stunning condition, it remains unpolished and showing light signs of previous wear. It has nearly no stretch. A true time capsule. Reference 8723. The watch will fit a 7.4 inch wrist

Crystal: Original attractive condition with a few light marks as expected from any vintage timepiece

Accessories: This watch comes with box and booklets as seen in photos