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1981 Rolex Day Date

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Rolex Yellow Gold Day-Date Oyster Perpetual self-winding Wristwatch, circa 1981

Rolex Yellow Gold Day-Date Oyster Perpetual self-winding Wristwatch, circa 1981

By Rolex

Located in Firenze, IT

Oyster Perpetual "Day-Date," Superlative Chronometer Officially Certified, case No. 6582183, Ref. 18038. Made circa 1981. Fine, center seconds, self-winding, water-resistant, 18K ye...

Category

Vintage 1980s Swiss Contemporary Wrist Watches

Materials

18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Rolex Day-Date 36mm Yellow Gold Watch, Oxblood Stella Dial 18038, Circa 1981
Rolex Day-Date 36mm Yellow Gold Watch, Oxblood Stella Dial 18038, Circa 1981

Rolex Day-Date 36mm Yellow Gold Watch, Oxblood Stella Dial 18038, Circa 1981

By Rolex

Located in Mayfair, London, London

A rare yellow gold Day-Date by Rolex. Featuring the highly collectable Oxblood Stella dial which is complemented by a fixed fluted yellow gold bezel. The piece is fitted with a sapp...

Category

Vintage 1980s Swiss Wrist Watches

Materials

Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Rolex President Day Date Yellow Gold with Diamond Bezel and Dial
Rolex President Day Date Yellow Gold with Diamond Bezel and Dial

Rolex President Day Date Yellow Gold with Diamond Bezel and Dial

By Rolex

Located in Chicago, IL

Circa 1981 Gents Rolex Day date Presidential, Reference 18038, 36 M.M 18K yellow Gold Case, Caliber 3055 Automatic Self Winding movement, Day and Date windows with single Quick set d...

Category

Vintage 1980s Swiss Wrist Watches

Materials

Diamond, 18k Gold

Rolex President Day Date 18038 Wood Dial Walnut Dial 18K Yellow Gold 36mm
Rolex President Day Date 18038 Wood Dial Walnut Dial 18K Yellow Gold 36mm

Rolex President Day Date 18038 Wood Dial Walnut Dial 18K Yellow Gold 36mm

By Rolex

Located in San Diego, CA

Style Number: 18038 Year: 1981 Model: Rolex President Day Date Case Material: 18K Yellow Gold Band: 18K Yellow Gold Bezel: 18K Yellow Gold Dial: Factory ...

Category

Vintage 1980s Wrist Watches

Rolex Yellow Gold Tiger's Eye Day Date President Wristwatch Ref 18038 1981
Rolex Yellow Gold Tiger's Eye Day Date President Wristwatch Ref 18038 1981

Rolex Yellow Gold Tiger's Eye Day Date President Wristwatch Ref 18038 1981

By Rolex

Located in West Hollywood, CA

A great looking man’s 18K Rolex Day Date President ref 18038 serial# 7.0 million circa 1981 with beautiful factory Tiger’s Eye dial.

Category

Vintage 1980s Swiss Modern Wrist Watches

Materials

18k Gold

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Located in New York, NY

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Located in New York, NY

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Vintage 1984 Rolex Day-Date 18038 18K YG Champagne Dial Auto 36mm
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Located in New York, NY

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1981 Rolex Day Date For Sale on 1stDibs

Find the exact 1981 rolex day date you’re shopping for in the variety available on 1stDibs. Every item for sale was constructed with extraordinary care, often using gold, stainless steel and 18k gold. Find an antique version now, or shop for 18 vintage or 1 modern creation for a more contemporary example of these cherished accessories. Finding the perfect 1981 rolex day date may mean sifting through those created during different time periods — you can find an early version that dates to the 20th Century and a newer variation that were made as recently as the 21st Century. A 1981 rolex day date can be a stylish choice for most occasions, but diamond rings, from our inventory of 1, can add a particularly distinctive touch to your look, day or night. Today, if you’re looking for a round cut version of this piece and are unable to find the perfect match, our selection also includes alternatives. There aren’t many items for women if you’re seeking a 1981 rolex day date, as most of the options available are for men and unisex.

How Much is a 1981 Rolex Day Date?

The price for a 1981 rolex day date starts at $5,600 and tops out at $15,195 with these watches, on average, selling for $7,300.

Rolex for sale on 1stDibs

While the rise in popularity of vintage Rolex watches is of no surprise to aficionados, collectors and industry experts, when it comes to contemporary luxury wristwatches, Rolex is also often the first brand that springs to mind. Not only is the company revered for its precision timekeeping and impeccable craftsmanship, but its name was designed to be memorable.

Rolex's enviable worldwide recognition can be credited in part to the genius of company founder Hans Wilsdorf. When the German-born watch dealer and his brother-in-law, Alfred Davis, set up their London enterprise, in 1905, they called it Wilsdorf & Davis, according to the traditional formula.

But Wilsdorf was determined to come up with another name that was short, would look good on a watch dial and was easy to say and remember in several languages. In 1908, he trademarked the name Rolex, and by 1920, he had moved the company to Geneva and redubbed it as Montres Rolex S.A.

But the main reasons for the brand’s success are its aforementioned commitment to precision and unflagging pursuit of innovation. In 1926, the company introduced the aptly named Oyster model. With a screw-down crown and case back, both fitted with rubber gaskets, this was the first truly waterproof watch.

Five years later, Rolex upped the ante with the Oyster Perpetual. That model’s patented Perpetual movement contained a rotor mechanism enabling it to self-wind. In another trendsetting move, in 1945, the brand debuted the Datejust, with a date window prominently displayed on the dial.

The company’s two most iconic models are sports watches. Although the Submariner, which debuted in 1953, was developed as a dive watch, its waterproof case, solid construction and good looks made it a favorite of adventurers and urbanites alike, including James Bond, who wore it in classics like Dr. No and Goldfinger. The Daytona, the racing chronograph made famous by Paul Newman, is especially sought after by collectors. Newman’s personal Daytona, which hit the auction block in 2017, sold for $17.8 million.

Find vintage Rolex watches, bracelets and more on 1stDibs.

Finding the Right Wrist-watches for You

Antique, vintage and luxury wristwatches have captured the hearts and minds of all manner of watch collectors as well as the watchmakers themselves — it's time you found your own.

Certain vintage watches for men and iconic watch designs for women are sought after not only because of their graceful proportions or innovative materials but also because of the illustrious histories of the houses that created them, histories that they stylishly embody.

Bulgari’s legendary Serpenti watch was on everyone’s list after the collection’s bold bracelet, which technically debuted after the timepiece, graced the wrist of actress Elizabeth Taylor. If anything, elaborately crafted timepieces — the unmistakably boxy silhouette of Cartier Tank watches, the elegant and minimal Calatrava designed by legendary Swiss house Patek Philippe — are even more effective than the shape we associate with traditional wristwatches.

Form watches — the all-encompassing moniker bestowed upon non-round watches — are making headlines and completing contemporary fashionable ensembles the world over. At the same time, both casual fans and careful collectors are drawn to the unbeatable charm of vintage styles, such as the icons designed by Omega that even James Bond can’t resist.

In the early days of watchmaking, watches were fragile enough that they necessitated protection from the elements. Now, wristwatches made of gold and steel can withstand the harshest climates — even 100 meters underwater, in the case of Rolex’s Submariner. Designer Gérald Genta, whose range of clients included Rolex, created for Audemars Piguet the first luxury sports timepiece to be made from stainless steel. First introduced in 1972, the Royal Oak was a perfect choice for blending the form and function that are now synonymous with sports watches.

Are you shopping for a wristwatch? It’s good to keep your needs as well as your specific personal style in mind: A smaller, subtle timepiece is a good fit for small wrists. When will you be wearing your new accessory? There’s a versatile model out there for everyday wear, while a rugged, feature-heavy watch is a safe bet if you’re prone to embarking on all-weather activities in the great outdoors.

Find antique, vintage and luxury wristwatches for sale on 1stDibs.