Rolex Day-Date 36 Gold — Fluted Bezel Meteorite Diamond Dial | Ref. 118235

Reference 118235 is a Day-Date 36 in Everose gold — Rolex's proprietary 18k rose gold alloy — carrying one of the most texturally distinctive dial options in the entire catalogue: a genuine meteorite dial with diamond hour markers. Meteorite dials are sourced from Widmanstätten-patterned iron-nickel meteorites, meaning each example is literally unique — no two dials share the same crystalline cross-section. The fluted bezel, a Day-Date hallmark since 1956, frames this extraordinary dial surface with a pattern that has become synonymous with the model's presidential identity.

The 118xxx prefix places this reference in the generation preceding the current 128xxx line, powered by the Calibre 3155 — a movement that predates the 3255 but shares the same fundamental architecture of a bidirectional self-winding rotor, Parachrom hairspring, and Paraflex shock absorbers. The 36 mm Oyster case in Everose gold is paired with the President bracelet, the three-link construction exclusive to the Day-Date and Lady-Datejust, available only in precious metal. The combination of meteorite, diamonds, and fluted bezel constitutes a maximalist expression within a case that maintains the proportional restraint of 36 mm.

Among Day-Date collectors, meteorite dials command consistent attention regardless of generation, and the Everose gold variant of 118235 benefits from the alloy's reputation for colour stability — Rolex's formula includes a small percentage of platinum to prevent fading over time. Pristine examples with box and papers represent a coherent acquisition in the pre-owned market, particularly as interest in 118xxx references grows in the shadow of the current 3255-equipped generation.