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Rolex Day-Date 36
Ref. 118398BR
Sits in Rolex’s upper tier here — more premium than three quarters of the Rolex watches we list, which start at £6,150.
Price range £6,150 to £125,000 across 41 Rolex watches in stock.The Day-Date has carried a particular weight since 1956 — it was the first wristwatch to show the day spelled out in full, and Rolex built it from the start in precious metal only, a decision that has never changed. The 118398BR sits near the top of that lineage: an 18ct yellow gold case paired with a diamond-set bezel, a gold dial, and the Calibre 3155, which is Rolex's own chronometer-certified movement with an instantaneous jumping day and date — meaning both displays snap to the new reading rather than creeping across. On the wrist, solid gold links read differently from plated ones: the colour holds through the bracelet rather than fading toward the edges, and the weight is immediately present. The concealed Crownclasp keeps the underside of the bracelet uninterrupted, so the watch reads as a continuous band of gold around the wrist. With a dial designed around diamond markers rather than luminous plots, this is a watch built for presence in light rather than legibility in its absence — which, given what it is, seems exactly right.
- Reference
- 118398BR
- Brand
- Rolex
- Collection
- Day-Date
- Case size
- 36mm
- Case material
- Gold
- Case shape
- Round
- Dial
- Gold
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Bezel
- Fixed
- Movement
- Automatic
- Calibre
- 3155
- Functions
- Day-date
- Bracelet / strap
- Stainless steel bracelet
- Strap colour
- Gold
- Clasp
- Folding clasp
- Lume
- Luminous
- Retailer
- Goldsmiths
Additional specifications
- Gem set
- Yes
Learn more about Rolex
Hans Wilsdorf founded Wilsdorf & Davis in London in 1905 with his brother-in-law Alfred Davis, importing Swiss movements and casing them in England. He registered the name Rolex in 1908 — short, pronounceable in any language, and easy to fit on a dial.
Wilsdorf's conviction was that the wristwatch, then regarded as a woman's ornament and hopelessly fragile, could be made accurate and durable. He proved the first half in 1910 by obtaining the first chronometer certification for a wristwatch, and the second in 1926 with the Oyster case, sealed by a screw-down crown and caseback. Mercedes Gleitze swam the Channel wearing one in 1927, and Wilsdorf bought the front page of the Daily Mail to say so — arguably the first modern watch marketing campaign.
The Perpetual rotor followed in 1931, giving automatic winding in a form the whole industry eventually copied. The company relocated to Geneva during the First World War to escape British wartime duties.
The professional models arrived in a compressed burst in the 1950s: Submariner, Explorer, GMT-Master, Milgauss, and later the Daytona. Each was built for a specific job — diving, exploration, aviation, laboratory work, racing — and each became a design template.
Wilsdorf left his shares to a private foundation on his death, so Rolex answers to no shareholders. It remains the largest producer of certified chronometers in Switzerland by a wide margin.
- 1905
- Hans Wilsdorf founds Wilsdorf & Davis in London.
- 1908
- The Rolex name is registered.
- 1926
- The Oyster case introduces genuine water resistance.
- 1931
- The Perpetual rotor brings modern automatic winding.
- 1953
- The Submariner and Explorer launch.
- 1963
- The Cosmograph Daytona arrives.
Also in 3 collections
This watch appears in Watches Under 37mm (1,771), Automatic Watches (1,699) and Solid Gold Watches (138).
Manufacturer’s guarantee
What the specifications mean
A mechanical watch for everyday wear.
Strengths
- 36mm suits most wrists
- Sapphire crystal, which resists scratching
- Luminous hands and markers for low light
- One of Rolex's more premium watches
Rolex Day-Date 36 alternatives
Watches from other brands at a similar price, style and size, so you can see what else your budget can buy.
| Specification | 118398BR | pfc804-1020004-100182 | GC8.0-SQ-A-00 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £49,950 | £32,300 | £55,680 |
| Case size | 36mm | 36mm | 39mm |
| Water resistance | — | 100m | 100m |
| Movement | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic |
| Strap | Stainless steel bracelet | Stainless steel bracelet | Rubber strap |
| Power reserve | — | 60 hours | 50 hours |
| This watch |
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|
Your new watch
Frequently asked questions, and things you should know about this watch
Will the glass scratch?
Unlikely. Sapphire is second only to diamond in hardness and shrugs off everyday marking.
Does it need a battery?
No. It is automatic — the motion of your wrist winds it, and there is no cell to replace.
Is it a men's or women's watch?
Listed as unisex, and at this size it suits any wrist that takes the dimensions.
Cheapest place to buy
Goldsmiths is the only UK retailer we track stocking this reference new, at £49,950. There is nothing to compare it against today.
Who are Goldsmiths?
Goldsmiths has been selling watches in Britain since 1778 and is part of the Watches of Switzerland Group, which is listed on the London Stock Exchange. They are an authorised dealer, so a watch comes with the manufacturer’s own warranty.
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