Description

This Rolex Day-Date reference 118235 in 18k Everose gold is configured with a factory silver sunray dial set with baguette and round diamond hour markers, a fluted Everose gold bezel, and the iconic President bracelet with hidden Crownclasp, all in matching rose gold. This is the Day-Date in one of its most enduringly sophisticated forms: cool silver against warm gold, with factory diamonds adding depth and presence without excess. A watch that belongs on the wrist as readily as it belongs in a collection.

The President’s Watch – Rose Gold Reimagined

The Rolex Day-Date has held the unofficial title of the world’s most prestigious wristwatch since its introduction in 1956, when it became the first self-winding chronometer to display both the full day of the week and the date simultaneously. From the outset, it was available only in solid precious metal, never steel, a constraint that has always defined its singular character in the Rolex catalogue. Over its long history, it has appeared on the wrists of heads of state, business leaders, and cultural figures across every decade, earning its enduring nickname “the President’s watch.”

The 118XXX generation, introduced in the mid-2000s, brought a meaningful evolution to the Day-Date formula: an expanded five-digit reference system, updated case finishing, and the introduction of Rolex’s proprietary Everose gold alloy, a patented 18k rose gold formula containing a small proportion of platinum to prevent colour fade over time. Where earlier rose gold watches could warm or shift in tone with age, Everose retains its characteristic warm blush indefinitely. The result is a Day-Date that looks as authoritative as the classic yellow gold references while offering a distinctly contemporary warmth.

A Study in Contrasts

The particular appeal of the 118235 lies in its interplay of warm and cool. The case, bezel, bracelet, and hands are all rendered in the same rose gold tone; cohesive, warm, and deeply luxurious. Against this, the silver sunray dial delivers a sharp, clean counterpoint: light-catching, almost luminous, and unambiguously modern. The factory diamond hour markers, an alternating pattern of round brilliants and rectangular baguettes in a twelve-point setting, complete the picture with a precision only Rolex’s in-house gem-setting department can achieve. Each stone is individually selected for colour and clarity and set by hand in the Geneva workshops.

The Calibre 3155 powering this reference is among the most refined movements Rolex has produced in the modern era: 31 jewels, a double quickset function for independent day-and-date adjustment, and COSC chronometer certification, a designation that requires consistent accuracy within -4/+6 seconds per day under independent testing.

The Dial

The watch features a beautiful silver sunray dial that catches light in shifting tones, from a cool platinum shimmer in direct light to a warmer, more textured silver in shade. Factory-set round and baguette diamond hour markers provide exceptional sparkle and contrast against the silver surface. The day display at 12 o’clock and the date window with Cyclops magnifier at 3 o’clock are presented in their classic configuration; precise, legible, and entirely in keeping with the dial’s refined character.

Specifications

Brand: Rolex

Model: Day-Date Automatic

Year: circa 2000s

Case material: Gold-tone (18k Everose gold)

Case diameter: approx. 36 mm

Bezel: Fluted Everose gold-tone bezel

Dial: Silver sunray dial with factory diamond hour markers (round and baguette)

Strap: Everose gold-tone President bracelet with hidden Crownclasp

Movement: Automatic (Calibre 3155)

Condition: Good vintage condition with light signs of wear consistent with age

Accessories: Watch only (no box or papers)

Warranty: 1 year warranty

Availability

This vintage day-date automatic watch is available through Vintage Times Amsterdam.

For further information or high-resolution images, please feel free to contact:

Vintage Times

Vintage Times Amsterdam is a small watch boutique who mainly deals online and with a select group of private collectors. We are constantly looking for rare vintage timepieces and try to present the best condition available. Please don’t hesitate to get in contact for more information about this watch or other timepieces from our collection. We ship worldwide and also welcome you for a visit at our office in Amsterdam.

Vintage Times

email: [email protected]

tel / app: +31 6 4 1111 044