Rolex Day-Date 'Bark' Ref. 18078 'Champagne' Dial 1981

$32,950.00 NZD

The Rolex Day-Date Ref. 18078 in 18k yellow gold with bark finish — known within the Rolex catalogue as the Écorce texture — is one of the more distinctive and characterful configurations the reference was offered in during its long production run. Where the standard polished or fluted yellow gold Day-Date reads as formal and resolved, the bark finish introduces an organic, almost sculptural quality across the case and bracelet: a hand-hammered texture that evokes the surface of tree bark and catches light in an entirely different manner to polished gold. On a President bracelet in 18k yellow gold, the effect across the wrist is arresting in a way that the standard configuration simply does not produce.

Rolex Day-Date 'Bark' Ref. 18078 'Champagne' Dial 1981

The Rolex Day-Date Ref. 18078 in 18k yellow gold with bark finish — known within the Rolex catalogue as the Écorce texture — is one of the more distinctive and characterful configurations the reference was offered in during its long production run. Where the standard polished or fluted yellow gold Day-Date reads as formal and resolved, the bark finish introduces an organic, almost sculptural quality across the case and bracelet: a hand-hammered texture that evokes the surface of tree bark and catches light in an entirely different manner to polished gold. On a President bracelet in 18k yellow gold, the effect across the wrist is arresting in a way that the standard configuration simply does not produce.

Details
- Maker
  
  Rolex
- Model
  
  Day-Date
- Reference
  
  18078
- Year
  
  1981
- Serial
  
  655XXXX
- Box & Papers
  
  No
- Movement
  
  Caliber. 3055, automatic w/ quickset date
- Dial & Hands
  
  Champagne dial w/ applied hour markers; Chinese character day and date wheel; 18k white gold hands w/ tritium lume; 18k yellow gold baton hands w/ tritium lume
- Bezel
  
  Bark (Écorce), 18k yellow gold
- Crystal
  
  Sapphire
- Bracelet/Strap
  
  Rolex President 'Bark' 8723 w/ 20 links, 18k yellow gold
- Performance
  
  Watch is fully functioning and running at +5 seconds per day
- Service History
  
  Serviced August 2026
Dimensions
- Diameter: 36mm
- Lug-to-lug: 46mm
- Lug width: 20mm
- Thickness: 12mm
Materials

18k yellow gold

The bark finish — known within the Rolex catalogue as the Écorce texture — is the defining characteristic of this example and one of the most visually striking surface treatments Rolex applied to the Day-Date across its production history. Hand-hammered across both the case and the President bracelet, the texture catches light at every angle
The plain champagne dial with applied yellow gold baton hour markers is the configuration that allows the bark case and bracelet to take their natural prominence — an unencumbered backdrop that makes no attempt to compete with the texture surrounding it
Serviced by our watchmaker in 2026 and running at +5 seconds per day, this Ref. 18078 is mechanically ready to wear without reservation. The Caliber. 3055 is a robust and well-regarded Rolex automatic of the period

Minor hairline scratches throughout the case, bracelet, and bezel
Minor dust in crystal
Minor spot on dial near 8 o'clock

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