Vintage 1988 Rolex Lady Datejust 26mm in solid 18K yellow gold featuring a fully diamond and ruby paved dial with round brilliant diamond bezel totaling approximately 3.00 carats, ruby hour markers scattered across the pave field, and an 18K yellow gold Presidential bracelet with diamond-set links. The watch measures 6 inches on the wrist, weighs 73.67 grams, and is presented in good to very good 8/10 condition.
Product Specifications:
- Item Type: Ladies Vintage Luxury Wristwatch
- Brand: Rolex
- Collection: Lady Datejust Presidential
- Reference: 69178
- Case Size: 26mm
- Metal: 18K Yellow Gold (stamped 750, Swiss Made)
- Total Weight: 73.67 grams
- Bracelet Length: 6 inches (15cm)
- Bracelet Style: Presidential Jubilee — 18K yellow gold with diamond-set center links
- Dial: Full diamond pave with ruby hour markers
- Hands: Gold
- Movement: Automatic — Superlative Chronometer Officially Certified
- Date Function: Yes — date window visible at 3 o'clock
- Crown: Gold fluted Rolex crown
- Year: 1988
- Condition: 8/10 Good to Very Good
- Hallmarks: 18K, 750, Swiss Made, Rolex Geneve — visible on clasp
- Style: Vintage Presidential / Diamond and Ruby Luxury
Diamond and Gemstone Details:
- Diamond Type: Round Brilliant
- Total Carat Weight: ~3.00 carats (dial, bezel, and bracelet combined)
- Bezel: Full prong-set round brilliant diamond bezel surround
- Dial: Fully paved with round brilliant diamonds
- Ruby Hour Markers: Round rubies set at each hour position across the pave dial field
- Setting: Pave (dial), prong (bezel and bracelet links)
Indices: Round ruby gemstones at all 12-hour positions set into the diamond pave dial field; no applied baton indices
Bezel Type: Full Diamond Prong-Set Round Brilliant Surround
Bezel Color: White diamond / yellow gold prong base
Band Material: Rolex Presidential Bracelet — solid 18K yellow gold with diamond-set center links
Band Color: Yellow gold with white diamond accents
Features: Automatic movement, Superlative Chronometer Officially Certified, date window at 3 o'clock, Rolex crown logo, ruby hour markers on full diamond pave dial, diamond Presidential bracelet links, Rolex Geneve clasp with 18K and 750 hallmarks
Style: Vintage Presidential / Diamond Ruby Dress Watch
Design & Construction:
The Rolex Lady Datejust reference 69178 Presidential is among the most luxurious configurations ever produced in the 26mm ladies Datejust lineup, combining a fully diamond-paved dial with scattered ruby hour markers and a prong-set diamond bezel in a seamless all-gold composition. The solid 18K yellow gold Presidential bracelet — Rolex's most prestigious integrated bracelet — features diamond-set center links that carry the sparkle from the case outward along the wrist, creating a continuous jeweled effect. The Rolex Geneve clasp on the reverse is stamped 18K, 750, and Swiss Made, with the reference number 8570F visible — all confirming authentic Rolex provenance. At 73.67 grams of solid 18K gold, this watch carries exceptional intrinsic precious metal value in addition to its collector and brand desirability.
About the Rolex Lady Datejust Presidential:
The Rolex Day-Date and Datejust Presidential references represent the pinnacle of Rolex's dress watch production, offered exclusively in precious metals and reserved for the most formal and prestigious configurations in the catalog. The Presidential bracelet — named for its association with heads of state and world leaders — is produced only in solid 18K gold or platinum, and its presence on a Datejust immediately identifies the piece as a top-tier Rolex configuration. Reference 69178 with a diamond and ruby pave dial is one of the rarest and most desirable factory-adjacent configurations available in the vintage 26mm Ladies Datejust market, combining the warmth of yellow gold with the brilliance of diamonds and the color accent of rubies in a way that remains unmatched in the luxury watch world. Vintage Rolex Presidential references from the 1980s have seen sustained collector demand, driven by their solid gold construction, iconic bracelet design, and the irreplaceable character that only decades of refined patina can produce. Acquiring this reference represents both a wearable jewel and a tangible investment in one of the world's most recognized and respected luxury timepiece brands.