How Rare is my Rolex 18108 Bark Finish/Diamonds?

[Richard F]

Hello,

I purchased a factory-made Rolex President model # 18108 Bark Finish, 12 diamond markers on dial, 12 diamond markers on bezel, champaigne dial, from a very well-established Dealer in the U.S.

The watch struck me as being very beautiful and seemingly rare. Purportedly was made in the early 90's.

Does anyone know how rare this watch could be ( containing diamond dial/bezel)?

Thank you

[HogwldFLTR]

Likely fairly rare but not highly sought.

[George58]

no idea how rare but I think it's a bute

[JSolution]

Originally Posted by HogwldFLTR

Likely fairly rare but not highly sought.

Yep I would agree with this very unique!

[Peter Toronto]

Next to mine, although it’s slightly different, your’s is only the second that I’ve seen.




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[rajurama]

Good mint condition Barks are rare , but overly stretched and bashed up ones are plentiful.

[rajurama]

Here's mine... Was picked as NOS a while back...

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[padi56]

Originally Posted by Richard F

Hello,

I purchased a factory-made Rolex President model # 18108 Bark Finish, 12 diamond markers on dial, 12 diamond markers on bezel, champaigne dial, from a very well-established Dealer in the U.S.

The watch struck me as being very beautiful and seemingly rare. Purportedly was made in the early 90's.

Does anyone know how rare this watch could be ( containing diamond dial/bezel)?

Thank you

Today the word rare does not equate with Rolex watches some made in smaller numbers yes but rare no. The bark type bracelets were quite more expensive to produce, much like the Tridor bracelets back in the late 1970s into very late 80s.

[casadecamporolex]

Here’s my bark DD.
Gifted by a fantastic client….not quite my style, but unique.

[Andrew NYC]

I've found the bark finish DD to be polarizing. People seem to either love it or hate it. I love mine and always get a lot of complements. I haven't however seen the diamond bezel before. Do you know if this was factory original or added after purchase?

[url=https://flic.kr/p/KRSLsg]

[brandrea]

Welcome to TRF

[6XYBE63ST]

love the Bracelet!

[KY..]

Although yellow gold bark is around I would say white gold bark is insanely hard to come by…

[miamiclay]

Originally Posted by Richard F

The watch struck me as being very beautiful and seemingly rare. Purportedly was made in the early 90's.
…
Does anyone know how rare this watch could be ( containing diamond dial/bezel)?

Thank you

The champagne diamond dial is quite common, the bark bezel and bracelet less so, the 12-diamond bark bezel less so again. As mentioned above, the bark models are not particularly sought after these days. (Rarity is only one factor in value - After all, every crayon scribble your kid does is one of a kind!) Your 18108 is not from the 90s, it would date from 1977-1988. If you have the serial number, we can narrow that down some.

Originally Posted by Andrew NYC

I haven't however seen the diamond bezel before. Do you know if this was factory original or added after purchase?

This 12-diamond bezel was original on the 18108 and 18308 references. (SQ and DQ versions). My 18308 is below - Idk if I could carry off a full diamond bezel, but I like this.

This thread on barked models has lots of info -
https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=552383

So much from the 70s/80s has come back into style (except for disco, thank heaven), so who knows, maybe bark will too? Personally, I think they look great.
.

[foxytimes]

Originally Posted by miamiclay

This 12-diamond bezel was original on the 18108 and 18308 references. (SQ and DQ versions). My 18308 is below - Idk if I could carry off a full diamond bezel, but I like this.

I'm unsure too about full diamond bezels, but you can have still enough bling. I saw this italian 18308 (it's not a 18208 as described) with a ruby diamond string dial in the flesh and it's quite tempting:

http://www.tempusorologi.it/prod/165...nte_rubini.php

[HogwldFLTR]

Originally Posted by Richard F

Hello,

I purchased a factory-made Rolex President model # 18108 Bark Finish, 12 diamond markers on dial, 12 diamond markers on bezel, champaigne dial, from a very well-established Dealer in the U.S.

The watch struck me as being very beautiful and seemingly rare. Purportedly was made in the early 90's.

Does anyone know how rare this watch could be ( containing diamond dial/bezel)?

Thank you

Originally Posted by HogwldFLTR

Likely fairly rare but not highly sought.

I just want to add that I quite like the bark and this one with the double diamonds. I've not lived with one so I don't know how long my infatuation would last if I actually got one.

[dannyboy123]

Does anyone know how these were manufactured

[miamiclay]

Originally Posted by foxytimes

I'm unsure too about full diamond bezels, but you can have still enough bling. I saw this italian 18308 (it's not a 18208 as described) with a ruby diamond string dial in the flesh and it's quite tempting

If the rubies were this deep color in the flesh, you should be tempted!
.

Originally Posted by dannyboy123

Does anyone know how these were manufactured

It’s been said here that the bark links are forged, not engraved.