Rolex Day-Date 36 Yellow Gold — Mother-of-Pearl Diamond Dial | Ref. 118348

Ref. 118348 is the Day-Date 36 in 18ct yellow gold, presenting the most traditional of Rolex's precious metal configurations with a mother-of-pearl diamond dial. The Day-Date, introduced in 1956 as the first watch to display both the day of the week spelled in full and the date, has always been constructed exclusively in precious metal and has never been offered in steel — a deliberate positioning that maintains its status as the reference worn by presidents, heads of state, and industry leaders. The mother-of-pearl dial, with diamond hour markers, exemplifies the dressed-up configurations for which the Day-Date is renowned.

Inside the 36mm Oyster case sits Calibre 3155 — the self-winding movement used across the Day-Date 36 range through the 118xxx series before the introduction of the 3255. The 3155 is a robust, well-regarded movement that features a Geneva Seal-equivalent level of finishing and has an established track record across decades of service. The President bracelet, designed exclusively for the Day-Date, features three semi-circular links and is available only in precious metal, reinforcing the reference's prestige positioning.

For collectors, 118348 with a diamond dial offers access to Day-Date heritage at a price point below the current 128238 and 228238. The 36mm case size suits wrists that find the 40mm Day-Date 40 oversized, and the yellow gold with mother-of-pearl combination is among the most photogenic and formally wearable configurations in the Day-Date lineage. Original-condition examples with full documentation continue to attract strong interest at auction.