Wristwatches · Wristwatch
Rolex Day-Date 18239 "Double Quick" White Gold with Tropical Dial
- Maker / attribution
- Rolex (maker)
- Date
- c. 1989
- Historical period
- Quartz Revolution (1969 – 1990)
- Country of origin
- Switzerland
- Object type
- Wristwatch
- Materials / technique
- white gold
- Stock no.
- Product 8383376425236
- Credit line
- Dealer listing, Collectors Corner NY (product 8383376425236)
- Catalogue title (original)
- Rolex Day-Date 18239 "Double Quick" White Gold w/Tropical Dial (English)
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Record summary
Catalogued by Collectors Corner NY (dealer), New York (stock number Product 8383376425236), this is a wristwatch by Rolex, made in Switzerland, dated c. 1989. The Atlas places it in the Quartz Revolution period (1969 – 1990) of its Wristwatches collection. Materials and techniques recorded by the source: white gold. The record is illustrated with 6 photographs.
Assembled from the source record's structured fields. Dates and attributions are given as the source states them; where a field is missing the Atlas leaves it blank rather than estimating.
Catalogue description
Dealer description — Collectors Corner NY
Introduced in 1956, the Rolex Day-Date was the first wristwatch to display both the day of the week and the date on its dial. Beyond this practical complication, it became synonymous with influential individuals throughout the following decades, including celebrities and leaders of industry. After adorning the wrists of both U.S. Presidents and other world leaders, the nickname "President" became synonymous with the model. Today, the Day-Date represents a tradition of Swiss watchmaking excellence and serves as a testament to Rolex's unwavering commitment to quality, precision, and enduring style. This five digit reference strikes the perfect balance of modern features and vintage aesthetic. While the Day-Date is normally seen in yellow gold, white gold variants are more rare and unique in appearance. This example, circa 1989 houses an early production year "double quickset" movement and we prefer the brushed lugs of this era compared to the modern counterparts which feel just a bit too flashy at times. What sets this piece apart is a gorgeous silver dial that has taken on a warm and even tropical patina. The bracelet just came back from a complete re-build and remains very tight so it's ready to enjoy for years to come. Explore more of our vintage Rolex watches .
Historical context
Quartz Revolution (1969 – 1990)
Seiko's Astron begins mass quartz timekeeping; traditional industries contract sharply.
Quartz and digital watches transformed the market after 1969. Swiss employment collapsed, Japanese and Hong Kong production soared, and the Swatch (1983) helped the Swiss industry recover; mechanical watches survived as luxury goods.
Read the period in the timelineMore wristwatches from this periodEarlier: Modern Mechanical Horology
Atlas type guide
Calendar, moon-phase and perpetual calendar watches
Calendar complications range from a simple date to the perpetual calendar, which automatically allows for months of different lengths and leap years until 2100. Pocket watches with perpetual calendars were made in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries; Patek Philippe made the first perpetual calendar wristwatch in 1925, and series production followed in 1941. The annual calendar (Patek Philippe, 1996) needs correction only once a year.
Moon-phase displays use a disc with two moons and 59 teeth advanced daily, approximating the 29.5-day lunation; more precise trains reduce the error to one day in over a century.
What to look for
- Apertures or subsidiary dials for day, date, month and leap year.
- Moon disc under a 'bosom' shaped aperture.
- Recessed correctors on the case band for setting the calendar.
Dating clues
- Triple-date wristwatches: popular c. 1940–1955.
- Perpetual calendar wristwatches: from 1925 (unique) and 1941 (series).
General guidance written by the Atlas editors about this kind of object. It is not a statement about this particular piece; for that, rely on the source record above and on physical examination.
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