Rolex Day-Date 40 Yellow Gold and Diamonds — White MOP Diamond Dial | Ref. 228398TBR

Reference 228398TBR sits at the apex of the Day-Date 40 collection, combining an 18ct yellow gold case set entirely with brilliant-cut diamonds on the bezel with a white mother-of-pearl dial paved with diamond indices. Mother-of-pearl is among the most technically demanding dial materials Rolex works with — each disc is unique in its iridescent patterning, and the setting of individual diamond hour markers requires exacting precision. The result is a watch that reads unmistakably as high jewellery while retaining the functional architecture of the Oyster platform. A 2024 production example, this reference is supplied with full box and papers.

Calibre 3255 provides the mechanical core — Rolex's most advanced movement to date, featuring the Chronergy escapement with its 70-hour power reserve and improved energy efficiency of approximately 15 percent over its predecessor. The 40mm Oyster case in 18ct yellow gold is rated to 100 metres of water resistance, a specification rarely matched by jewellery-set timepieces from any maker. The President bracelet in yellow gold with its concealed clasp underscores the watch's presidential heritage, unchanged in its fundamental design since the bracelet's introduction alongside the first Day-Date in 1956.

As a current-production example with full set documentation, 228398TBR offers both immediate ownership gratification and strong secondary market positioning. Diamond-bezel Day-Date references in yellow gold consistently outperform plainer variants at auction, and the MOP dial configuration narrows the field further. This is a watch for the buyer who views timekeeping and jewellery as a single unified expression.