Rolex Day-Date 40 Gold — Chocolate Bevelled Roman Dial | Ref. 228345RBR

Reference 228345RBR occupies a fascinating position within the Day-Date 40 family: a gem-set bezel variant paired with a chocolate dial featuring bevelled Roman numerals — a combination that leans into the dressy, sculptural side of Rolex's flagship complication watch. The Day-Date 40 was introduced in 2015 as the first significant resizing of the model since its 1956 debut, expanding from 36mm to a more contemporary 40mm diameter while retaining the model's exclusive precious-metal-only construction.

Calibre 3255 provides the movement foundation — the same architecture used across the Day-Date 40 lineup, offering a 70-hour power reserve, five patents incorporated into the escapement alone, and a +2/-2 seconds per day precision rating that is among the tightest tolerances certified in a mechanical wristwatch. The Everose gold case, President bracelet, and gem-set bezel are all manufactured to Rolex's internal standards, and the chocolate dial's bevelled Roman numerals are individually applied, each with polished facets to catch light.

Gem-set bezel Day-Date references — designated by the 'RBR' suffix indicating ruby-set bezels on some configurations — command premiums over smooth and fluted variants. This particular dial and bezel pairing in Everose gold has a warmth and coherence that buyers find difficult to achieve with other combinations. For the collector seeking a Day-Date 40 that reads as a jewellery piece first and a watch second, the 228345RBR is a compelling and relatively rare configuration.