Reference:18028 - Revision history

Klaudiusz: Link primary Christie’s 18028 auction records

2026-09-29T05:12:08Z

Link primary Christie’s 18028 auction records

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:12, 29 September 2026
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	* ''The Vintage Rolex Field Manual'' — Colin A. White, Morning Tundra		* ''The Vintage Rolex Field Manual'' — Colin A. White, Morning Tundra
	* Christie's, "Rolex Ref. 18028 Day-Date, 18k yellow gold smooth bezel with bloodstone (jasper) dial — Christie's Hong Kong, lot 20"~~, Christie's~~, 2024		* [https://onlineonly.christies.com/s/watches-online-the-collectibles-part-1/rolex-day-date-bloodstone-dial-ref-18028-20/231723 Christie's, "Rolex Ref. 18028 Day-Date, 18k yellow gold smooth bezel with bloodstone (jasper) dial — Christie's Hong Kong, lot 20", 2024]
	* [https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2021/important-watches-6/day-date-ref-18028-yellow-gold-and-diamond-set Sotheby's, "Rolex Ref. 18028 Day-Date, 18k yellow gold smooth bezel with green dégradé diamond-set dial — Sotheby's Important Watches Part I, Geneva, lot 68", Sotheby's, 2021]		* [https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2021/important-watches-6/day-date-ref-18028-yellow-gold-and-diamond-set Sotheby's, "Rolex Ref. 18028 Day-Date, 18k yellow gold smooth bezel with green dégradé diamond-set dial — Sotheby's Important Watches Part I, Geneva, lot 68", Sotheby's, 2021]
	* [https://www.phillips.com/detail/rolex/HK080217/895 Phillips, "Rolex Ref. 18028 Day-Date, 18k yellow gold smooth bezel with onyx dial — Phillips Hong Kong Watch Auction FIVE, lot 895", Phillips, 2017]		* [https://www.phillips.com/detail/rolex/HK080217/895 Phillips, "Rolex Ref. 18028 Day-Date, 18k yellow gold smooth bezel with onyx dial — Phillips Hong Kong Watch Auction FIVE, lot 895", Phillips, 2017]
	* Christie's, "Rolex Ref. 18028 Day-Date, 18k yellow gold smooth bezel with turquoise lacquered dial — Christie's Geneva, lot 358"~~, Christie's~~, 2014		* [https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-5790270 Christie's, "Rolex Ref. 18028 Day-Date, 18k yellow gold smooth bezel with turquoise lacquered dial — Christie's Geneva, lot 358", 2014]
	* [https://www.sothebys.com/ Sotheby's editorial, "The Rolex Day-Date: A Complete Collector's Guide", Sotheby's]		* [https://www.sothebys.com/ Sotheby's editorial, "The Rolex Day-Date: A Complete Collector's Guide", Sotheby's]
	* [https://italianwatchspotter.com/the-history-of-the-rolex-day-date/?lang=en Italian Watch Spotter editorial, "The History of the Day-Date", Italian Watch Spotter]		* [https://italianwatchspotter.com/the-history-of-the-rolex-day-date/?lang=en Italian Watch Spotter editorial, "The History of the Day-Date", Italian Watch Spotter]

Klaudiusz: Deep audit: grounded production wording and image gallery

2026-09-28T20:34:41Z

Deep audit: grounded production wording and image gallery

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:34, 28 September 2026
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	==Production outline==		==Production outline==

	The reference appears in the late-1970s transition to five-digit Day-Dates, with sapphire crystal and caliber 3055, and gives way to the smooth-bezel [[Reference:18208\|18208]] when caliber 3155 enters the line in 1988. Rolex production ~~totals~~ for the 18028 ~~have not~~ been published ~~here~~. The main documented branch is the dial: standard baton and Roman dials sit alongside stone, lacquered, mother-of-pearl and diamond-set examples.		The reference appears in the late-1970s transition to five-digit Day-Dates, with sapphire crystal and caliber 3055, and gives way to the smooth-bezel [[Reference:18208\|18208]] when caliber 3155 enters the line in 1988. No Rolex production total for the 18028 has been published. The main documented branch is the dial: standard baton and Roman dials sit alongside stone, lacquered, mother-of-pearl and diamond-set examples.

	==Movement notes==		==Movement notes==
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	==Dial map==		==Dial map==

	Published 18028 examples include champagne and silvered baton dials, Roman numerals, mother-of-pearl, stone dials such as onyx and bloodstone, lacquered Stella colours, and dégradé dials with diamond markers. These are documented configurations, not a complete factory ~~menu~~. The broader dial taxonomy for the President line is discussed on the [[Reference:1803\|1803]] page.		Published 18028 examples include champagne and silvered baton dials, Roman numerals, mother-of-pearl, stone dials such as onyx and bloodstone, lacquered Stella colours, and dégradé dials with diamond markers. These are documented configurations, not a complete factory list. The broader dial taxonomy for the President line is discussed on the [[Reference:1803\|1803]] page.

	==Case, bezel, crystal, and crown==		==Case, bezel, crystal, and crown==
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	See also the [[Reference:day-date\|Day-Date family index]], [[Reference:Movements\|movement reference]], [[Reference:Bracelets\|bracelet and clasp guide]], and [[Reference:Serial-numbers\|serial numbers by year]].		See also the [[Reference:day-date\|Day-Date family index]], [[Reference:Movements\|movement reference]], [[Reference:Bracelets\|bracelet and clasp guide]], and [[Reference:Serial-numbers\|serial numbers by year]].

			<gallery mode="packed" heights="180">
			File:Ref 18028 onyx.webp\|18028 smooth-bezel example with onyx dial.
			File:Ref 18028 degrade.webp\|18028 smooth-bezel example with green dégradé diamond-set dial.
			</gallery>

	== Sources ==		== Sources ==

Admin: Audit 5510 prose and catalogue claims; correct serials, bracelet provenance and auction labels

2026-09-21T04:00:07Z

Audit 5510 prose and catalogue claims; correct serials, bracelet provenance and auction labels

Show changes

Klaudiusz: Hero: place Ref 18028 onyx.webp as the lead image

2026-09-12T16:55:55Z

Hero: place Ref 18028 onyx.webp as the lead image

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:55, 12 September 2026
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	<div class="rp-lead">		<div class="rp-lead">
	[[File:Ref 18028 onyx.webp\|thumb\|center\|640px\|alt=Rolex Day-Date 18028 ~~in yellow gold — the plain, polished smooth bezel that sets it apart from the fluted 18038, with a champagne baton dial.~~\|Rolex Day-Date 18028 ~~in yellow gold — the plain, polished smooth bezel that sets it apart from the fluted 18038, with a champagne baton dial.~~]]		[[File:Ref 18028 onyx.webp\|thumb\|center\|640px\|alt=Rolex Day-Date 18028\|Rolex Day-Date 18028]]
	</div>		</div>

Admin: Layout: duplicate lead image removed

2026-09-06T23:07:41Z

Layout: duplicate lead image removed

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:07, 6 September 2026
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	==Dial map==		==Dial map==
	[[File:Ref 18028 onyx.webp\|thumb\|right\|250px\|alt=Smooth-bezel Rolex 18028 with onyx dial\|A smooth-bezel 18028 with an onyx stone dial — the special dials are where the understated reference becomes collectible.]]

	The smooth bezel pairs most naturally with a clean dial, and the common 18028 is a champagne or silvered dial with applied baton or stick markers, the dressiest and most discreet face in the line. Beyond that the 18028 takes the full 5-digit Day-Date dial menu of Roman-numeral, mother-of-pearl, diamond-index and special dials. Stone dials such as onyx and bloodstone, lacquered Stella colours like turquoise, and dégradé dials with diamond markers all turn up on the smooth case, and they are where an 18028 leaves the everyday band behind. The deep dial taxonomy that spans the President line sits on the [[Reference:1803\|1803]] entry.		The smooth bezel pairs most naturally with a clean dial, and the common 18028 is a champagne or silvered dial with applied baton or stick markers, the dressiest and most discreet face in the line. Beyond that the 18028 takes the full 5-digit Day-Date dial menu of Roman-numeral, mother-of-pearl, diamond-index and special dials. Stone dials such as onyx and bloodstone, lacquered Stella colours like turquoise, and dégradé dials with diamond markers all turn up on the smooth case, and they are where an 18028 leaves the everyday band behind. The deep dial taxonomy that spans the President line sits on the [[Reference:1803\|1803]] entry.

Admin: Layout: restore the original lead caption

2026-09-06T22:59:05Z

Layout: restore the original lead caption

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:59, 6 September 2026
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	<div class="rp-lead">		<div class="rp-lead">
	[[File:Ref 18028 onyx.webp\|thumb\|center\|640px\|alt=Rolex Day-Date 18028\|Rolex Day-Date 18028]]		[[File:Ref 18028 onyx.webp\|thumb\|center\|640px\|alt=Rolex Day-Date 18028 in yellow gold — the plain, polished smooth bezel that sets it apart from the fluted 18038, with a champagne baton dial.\|Rolex Day-Date 18028 in yellow gold — the plain, polished smooth bezel that sets it apart from the fluted 18038, with a champagne baton dial.]]
	</div>		</div>

Admin: Layout: hero refreshed

2026-09-06T22:53:27Z

Layout: hero refreshed

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:53, 6 September 2026
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	<div class="rp-lead">		<div class="rp-lead">
	[[File:Ref 18028 ~~hero~~.webp\|thumb\|center\|640px\|alt=Rolex Day-Date 18028 ~~in yellow gold — the plain, polished smooth bezel that sets it apart from the fluted 18038, with a champagne baton dial.~~\|Rolex Day-Date 18028 ~~in yellow gold — the plain, polished smooth bezel that sets it apart from the fluted 18038, with a champagne baton dial.~~]]		[[File:Ref 18028 onyx.webp\|thumb\|center\|640px\|alt=Rolex Day-Date 18028\|Rolex Day-Date 18028]]
	</div>		</div>

Admin: Layout: hero promoted to lead

2026-09-06T22:28:39Z

Layout: hero promoted to lead

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:28, 6 September 2026
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	}}		}}
	<small>[[Reference:day-date\|Day-Date]] › '''18028'''</small>		<small>[[Reference:day-date\|Day-Date]] › '''18028'''</small>

			<div class="rp-lead">
			[[File:Ref 18028 hero.webp\|thumb\|center\|640px\|alt=Rolex Day-Date 18028 in yellow gold — the plain, polished smooth bezel that sets it apart from the fluted 18038, with a champagne baton dial.\|Rolex Day-Date 18028 in yellow gold — the plain, polished smooth bezel that sets it apart from the fluted 18038, with a champagne baton dial.]]
			</div>

	The 18028 is the smooth-bezel Day-Date, the understated outlier of the first 5-digit generation. Where the [[Reference:18038\|18038]] carries the fluted bezel that is the Day-Date's signature, the 18028 leaves the bezel plain and polished, with no fluting, no diamonds and no bark. It is yellow gold, caliber 3055 and sapphire crystal, made from the late 1970s to 1988. The smooth bezel was the minority choice, so the 18028 is the scarcer of the two in production yet trades at much the same level, because the fluted look is what most buyers wanted. It is the dressy sleeper of the line. The dials do the lifting, and the stone and lacquered ones turn a discreet President into something rarer.		The 18028 is the smooth-bezel Day-Date, the understated outlier of the first 5-digit generation. Where the [[Reference:18038\|18038]] carries the fluted bezel that is the Day-Date's signature, the 18028 leaves the bezel plain and polished, with no fluting, no diamonds and no bark. It is yellow gold, caliber 3055 and sapphire crystal, made from the late 1970s to 1988. The smooth bezel was the minority choice, so the 18028 is the scarcer of the two in production yet trades at much the same level, because the fluted look is what most buyers wanted. It is the dressy sleeper of the line. The dials do the lifting, and the stone and lacquered ones turn a discreet President into something rarer.

	[[File:Ref 18028 hero.webp\|thumb\|right\|260px\|alt=Yellow gold Rolex Day-Date 18028 smooth bezel champagne dial\|Rolex Day-Date 18028 in yellow gold — the plain, polished smooth bezel that sets it apart from the fluted 18038, with a champagne baton dial.]]

	==Core facts==		==Core facts==

Admin: site-wide: layout classes (core-facts card, breadcrumb, entry-point cards)

2026-09-05T01:20:39Z

site-wide: layout classes (core-facts card, breadcrumb, entry-point cards)

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:20, 5 September 2026
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	\|titlemode=replace		\|titlemode=replace
	}}		}}
	<small>[[Reference:day-date\|Day-Date]] -> '''18028'''</small>		<small>[[Reference:day-date\|Day-Date]] › '''18028'''</small>

	The 18028 is the smooth-bezel Day-Date, the understated outlier of the first 5-digit generation. Where the [[Reference:18038\|18038]] carries the fluted bezel that is the Day-Date's signature, the 18028 leaves the bezel plain and polished, with no fluting, no diamonds and no bark. It is yellow gold, caliber 3055 and sapphire crystal, made from the late 1970s to 1988. The smooth bezel was the minority choice, so the 18028 is the scarcer of the two in production yet trades at much the same level, because the fluted look is what most buyers wanted. It is the dressy sleeper of the line. The dials do the lifting, and the stone and lacquered ones turn a discreet President into something rarer.		The 18028 is the smooth-bezel Day-Date, the understated outlier of the first 5-digit generation. Where the [[Reference:18038\|18038]] carries the fluted bezel that is the Day-Date's signature, the 18028 leaves the bezel plain and polished, with no fluting, no diamonds and no bark. It is yellow gold, caliber 3055 and sapphire crystal, made from the late 1970s to 1988. The smooth bezel was the minority choice, so the 18028 is the scarcer of the two in production yet trades at much the same level, because the fluted look is what most buyers wanted. It is the dressy sleeper of the line. The dials do the lifting, and the stone and lacquered ones turn a discreet President into something rarer.
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	==Core facts==		==Core facts==

	{\| class="wikitable"		{\| class="wikitable rp-facts"
	\|-		\|-
	! detail		! detail

Admin: Cleanup: remove stale Category:Working Draft — page is fully published, category has no functional gate in code

2026-08-09T23:55:11Z

Cleanup: remove stale Category:Working Draft — page is fully published, category has no functional gate in code

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:55, 9 August 2026
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	==Dial map==		==Dial map==
	[[File:Ref 18028 onyx.webp\|thumb\|right\|250px\|alt=Smooth-bezel Rolex 18028 with onyx dial\|A smooth-bezel 18028 with an onyx stone dial — the special dials are where the understated reference becomes collectible.]]		[[File:Ref 18028 onyx.webp\|thumb\|right\|250px\|alt=Smooth-bezel Rolex 18028 with onyx dial\|A smooth-bezel 18028 with an onyx stone dial — the special dials are where the understated reference becomes collectible.]]


	The smooth bezel pairs most naturally with a clean dial, and the common 18028 is a champagne or silvered dial with applied baton or stick markers, the dressiest and most discreet face in the line. Beyond that the 18028 takes the full 5-digit Day-Date dial menu of Roman-numeral, mother-of-pearl, diamond-index and special dials. Stone dials such as onyx and bloodstone, lacquered Stella colours like turquoise, and dégradé dials with diamond markers all turn up on the smooth case, and they are where an 18028 leaves the everyday band behind. The deep dial taxonomy that spans the President line sits on the [[Reference:1803\|1803]] entry.		The smooth bezel pairs most naturally with a clean dial, and the common 18028 is a champagne or silvered dial with applied baton or stick markers, the dressiest and most discreet face in the line. Beyond that the 18028 takes the full 5-digit Day-Date dial menu of Roman-numeral, mother-of-pearl, diamond-index and special dials. Stone dials such as onyx and bloodstone, lacquered Stella colours like turquoise, and dégradé dials with diamond markers all turn up on the smooth case, and they are where an 18028 leaves the everyday band behind. The deep dial taxonomy that spans the President line sits on the [[Reference:1803\|1803]] entry.
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	===Smooth bezel with a special dial===		===Smooth bezel with a special dial===
	[[File:Ref 18028 degrade.webp\|thumb\|right\|250px\|alt=Smooth-bezel Rolex 18028 with green dégradé diamond dial\|A smooth-bezel 18028 with a green dégradé diamond-set dial — the plain bezel keeps the eye on the dial.]]		[[File:Ref 18028 degrade.webp\|thumb\|right\|250px\|alt=Smooth-bezel Rolex 18028 with green dégradé diamond dial\|A smooth-bezel 18028 with a green dégradé diamond-set dial — the plain bezel keeps the eye on the dial.]]


	The understated case is the canvas, and the special dials are where the 18028 becomes collectible. Bloodstone and onyx stone dials, turquoise Stella lacquer, and green dégradé with diamond markers have all carried the reference through the Christie's, Phillips and Sotheby's sale rooms. The plain bezel keeps the eye on the dial, which is exactly why the stone and lacquered dials read so strongly on this reference.		The understated case is the canvas, and the special dials are where the 18028 becomes collectible. Bloodstone and onyx stone dials, turquoise Stella lacquer, and green dégradé with diamond markers have all carried the reference through the Christie's, Phillips and Sotheby's sale rooms. The plain bezel keeps the eye on the dial, which is exactly why the stone and lacquered dials read so strongly on this reference.
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	\| HKD 155,000		\| HKD 155,000
	\|}		\|}


	== Related references ==		== Related references ==
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	[[Category:Day-Date]]		[[Category:Day-Date]]
	~~[[Category:Working Draft]]~~