Rolex 18238 Wood Dial

[thomasey]

Good day all,

I have been an avid reader of this wonderful forum which is full of sharing and knowledge.

I am considering adding a Rolex Day-date 36mm into my collection and has came across an interesting piece and would like to seek some expert opinions on it.

It is a Rolex 18238 in Burlwood dial (as the seller told me).

The model number engraved on the case is 18238SP instead of 18238.

Should i be concerned about the additional SP engraved on the case or does it give any other meaning to it? It is consistent with the other engraving.

And is there anyway to find out if the dial is authentic and if it was sold as the exact configuration?

Thanks in advance!

[miamiclay]

I have not seen an SP suffix on a Day-Date case (only A, B, & BIC, as best I recall). Post some pics of the engraving?

Likewise, post some clear, sharp pics of the dial and the experts here can tell you if it is correct. Unfortunately, there is likely no way to know whether the dial is original to that specific watch. (Occasionally the warranty certificate will show the original dial code, but not often.)

All 18238 wood dials are burlwood, from one of several species (walnut, birch, African mahogany, madrone)

You might also want to have a look at these two threads -

https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=750843

https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=750086

[996marty]

Any photos?

[Rolex1982]

If you don’t trust the sellers word for it, i would search for another one. Buy the seller, then the watch.

[jgottsman11]

Very good idea. I wanted a wood dial Rolex since I saw a 18238 with wood dial when I was a 16 years old. 10 years later and abracadabra




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[thomasey]

I have dealt with the seller before and am comfortable in dealing.

Just hope to find out more about it and make a decision if it is worth the premium over regular 18238 with full set.

[painexpert]

Does it have papers? I am familiar with this model but I have never seen the SP designation.

[thomasey]

Yes it comes with full set and papers. But it does not have the SP on the paper.

[Rolex1982]

Is it this one?

https://www.carousell.sg/p/rare-1997...ex-1280183066/

[jgottsman11]

Originally Posted by Rolex1982

Is it this one?

https://www.carousell.sg/p/rare-1997...ex-1280183066/

That thing is priced way way to high

[miamiclay]

Well, I love the DDs in part because you can keep seeing things you have never seen before!

SP as an abbreviation for “spéciale” makes sense, but in that case I would have assumed that the watch itself would be a little more, well … special? It seems likely that it would refer to a special order watch rather than a special client because otherwise we would have seen this suffix before on Khanjar dial DDs or other ones obviously for special clients.

I would suggest starting a new thread in the vintage forum here, inquiring specifically about that SP suffix. Maybe crowncollection or CTech or one of the other knowledgeable folks will have an answer.

[aniconic]

Originally Posted by jgottsman11

That thing is priced way way to high

S$36K is about USD$27K. Wood dials are rare, and examples with original papers and box are even more rare. Hard to tell from the photos, but if this is all correct, and if there's no over polishing, the bracelet is good, etc., that's not a bad asking price (and asking price is not necessarily final negotiated selling price).