This isn't your everyday-Date. This is the everyday Day-Date you actually want.
This is reference 18296, produced in 1997 and built for the kind of wrist that doesn’t do half-measures. The 18296 is one of the rarer Day-Date references, produced in limited numbers during the 90s, making it a sought-after piece.
Crafted in solid platinum, the most prestigious and exclusive metal in Rolex’s catalog, this watch already plays in a different league. Platinum has always been Rolex’s most serious flex—used sparingly, with quiet authority, and typically reserved for their most elite configurations.
The real showstopper is the factory pavé dial, fully set with extra-large brilliant-cut diamonds. No hour markers. No restraint. Just an unbroken sea of stones that light up the wrist like a disco ball at high noon. Telling the time? Not really the point.
Unlike its flashier cousins, the bezel here is smooth platinum—a refined counterpoint to the maximalism of the dial. The lugs, however, are factory-set with diamonds, framing the case with a subtle yet unmistakable shimmer. The effect is perfectly balanced: bold, but never vulgar.
Inside ticks the Caliber 3155, the dependable workhorse of '90s Day-Dates, complete with the double quickset function, making both the day and date easily adjustable—a small luxury for a very big watch.
Measuring 36 mm, the platinum Oyster case has well-preserved edges and no signs of overpolishing. Also the bezel remains thick and robust. The diamond-set lugs are intact, and the original President bracelet in platinum shows minimal stretch, retaining its heft and dignity.
This watch has been worn, and it shows here and there. There are honest signs of wear and tear—as you'd expect from a nearly three-decade-old platinum piece—but nothing that detracts from its structure or charm. This is the kind of watch that looks better with a bit of mileage.
- year1997
- reference18296
- modelDay-Date
