WHAT IS SPECIAL
The Ref. 18168 is an exceptionally rare artistic creation from Rolex’s high-jewellery repertoire of the 1980s. A bezel of baguette-cut rubies lends the watch a sense of strength and architecture, while ruby hour markers punctuate the champagne-coloured dial. Even the day and date displays are rendered in deep red to echo the gemstones. Between them runs a brilliant circle of diamonds, which continues along the centre links of the President bracelet. In red, gold and white—in rubies, yellow gold and diamonds—the watch composes an elaborate tableau for the wrist.
This may well be the only ruby-set Ref. 18168 currently visible on the market. Yet for all its splendour, it is never loud. The deep crimson of the rubies plays against the mellow warmth of a champagne-gold dial softened by time, like Burgundy wine casting its shadow across a piece of antique gold.