Rolex Day-Date 36 Yellow Gold — White MOP Diamond Dial | Ref. 128238

Introduced in 1956 as the world's first wristwatch to display the date spelled out in full, the Day-Date has never relinquished its status as the benchmark of prestige watchmaking. Reference 128238, the current-generation 36 mm iteration in 18 ct yellow gold, honours that legacy while benefiting from the most sophisticated movement architecture Rolex has ever placed in its flagship dress watch — Calibre 3255.

The dial presents white mother-of-pearl, a material Rolex sources with exacting colour-matching criteria, upon which diamond hour markers are individually set. Beneath the fluted bezel — a motif whose faceted planes transform yellow gold into a cascade of prismatic reflections — the dial achieves a layered depth that shifts character under different light sources. The iconic President bracelet in 18 ct yellow gold, with its semi-circular three-piece links, provides both visual and tactile confirmation of the reference's pedigree.

Calibre 3255 is a movement of exceptional refinement, incorporating Rolex's patented Chronergy escapement — a nickel-phosphorus lever and escape wheel pairing that improves energy efficiency by 15 percent over conventional lever escapements — alongside a Paraflex shock-absorbing system and a variable-inertia balance wheel held in place by a gold Microstella regulator. The resulting 70-hour power reserve ensures the watch runs continuously across a long weekend without winding. Delivered in 2024 with full box and papers, this reference stands as the definitive expression of the Day-Date in yellow gold.