Rolex Day-Date 40 Platinum & Diamonds — Blue Ombré Dial | Ref. 228396TBR

Reference 228396TBR is among the most technically demanding configurations in the current Day-Date catalogue — a 40mm platinum case set with diamonds on both the bezel and case, matched to a blue ombré dial that transitions through tonal gradations requiring skilled lacquering and finishing techniques. The ombré dial treatment is a relatively recent addition to Rolex's dial vocabulary, and in platinum with a full diamond bezel it represents the upper tier of the contemporary Day-Date offering. As a 2024 production piece supplied with box and papers, it is as current as the reference gets.

Calibre 3255 powers this watch — Rolex's in-house movement that represents the state of the art in their self-winding technology. The 3255 features a Chronergy escapement (improving energy efficiency by around 15% over the lever escapement it replaces), a 70-hour power reserve, a Syloxi paramagnetic hairspring, and Paraflex shock absorbers. The platinum case offers 100 metres of water resistance and is one of only two precious metals Rolex uses for the Day-Date — platinum being reserved for the highest tier.

Buyers considering this reference are operating at the very top of the Rolex market. Platinum Day-Date 40s with diamond bezels and ombré dials are produced in genuinely limited numbers and carry significant waiting lists at authorised dealers. The 2024 production year with full set makes this an essentially unworn piece with all manufacturer warranties intact. For investors and collectors alike, platinum Day-Date references with uncommon dial executions represent one of the most defensible value propositions in the Rolex secondary market over a medium to long horizon.