Rolex Day-Date 36 Yellow Gold — Green Index Dial | Ref. 118238

Reference 118238 occupies a singular position within the Day-Date lineage: an all-yellow-gold construction that has remained among the most enduring configurations since the model's 1956 debut. Housed in an 18 ct yellow gold Oyster case measuring 36 mm, the watch is water-resistant to 100 metres via the Twinlock crown-winding system — a testament to Rolex's consistent application of tool-watch engineering principles to its most prestigious dress pieces. The fluted bezel, milled directly into the gold case band and polished to mirror brilliance, is an unmistakable stylistic hallmark that also serves as a subtle demonstration of Rolex's metalworking precision.

The green dial fitted to this reference is rendered in a deep lacquered finish with applied yellow gold index hour markers. Green has periodically appeared across Rolex's dial palette in reference to heritage and vitality, and on a yellow gold case it creates a particularly striking chromatic contrast. The President bracelet — a three-piece semi-circular link design exclusive to the Day-Date and reserved entirely for precious metal configurations — provides a cohesive, continuous flow from case to clasp that reinforces the watch's position as Rolex's most distinguished men's timepiece.

Powering the 118238 is the calibre 3155, a self-winding mechanical movement built entirely in-house and featuring an instantaneous day-date mechanism that advances both the day wheel and the date disc simultaneously at midnight. The movement incorporates Rolex's Microstella regulation system for fine-tuning rate accuracy and carries Superlative Chronometer certification to +/- 2 seconds per day. Later production examples have been updated to the calibre 3255 with 70-hour power reserve, Chronergy escapement, and Paraflex shock absorbers.