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Rolex Day-Date II
Ref. 218235
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Stepping up in Rolex's range
Introduced in 2008 as a deliberate scaling-up of the original 36mm Day-Date, the 218235 was Rolex's answer to a shift in taste toward larger dress watches — and it remained in production until the Day-Date 40 took its place. The movement inside is the Calibre 3156, made exclusively for this generation and fitted with the blue Parachrom hairspring and Paraflex shock system that Rolex developed to resist magnetism and absorb impacts beyond what a conventional lever absorbs. It is a purpose-built movement for a watch expected to be worn hard in formal settings. At 41mm across and 12.1mm thick, the case sits closer to the wrist than most watches of this diameter, and it finds its way under a shirt cuff where bulkier dress watches will not. The President bracelet — solid semi-circular links in Everose gold against a Rose gold dial — reads as a coherent whole rather than a case paired with an afterthought. The Crownclasp, released by lifting a hinged crown lever flush with the bracelet, keeps the underside uninterrupted so nothing catches fabric on the way through a cuff.
- Reference
- 218235
- Brand
- Rolex
- Collection
- Day-Date II
- Case size
- 41mm
- Case thickness
- 12.1mm
- Lug width
- 21mm
- Case material
- Rose gold
- Case shape
- Round
- Dial
- Rose gold
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Movement
- Automatic
- Calibre
- 3156
- Functions
- Day-date, Calendar
- Water resistance
- 100m
- Bracelet / strap
- Stainless steel bracelet
- Strap colour
- Rose Gold
- Clasp
- Folding clasp
- Lume
- Luminous
- Condition
- Pre-owned
- Retailer
- Goldsmiths
Additional specifications
- Lug-to-lug
- 49.6mm
- Power reserve
- 48 hours
- 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 4 collections
This watch appears in Automatic Watches (1,861), Watch Price Drops (377), Pre-Owned, Ex-Display & Vintage Watches (375) and Solid Gold Watches (167).
2-year Goldsmiths warranty
What the specifications mean
A mechanical watch for everyday wear.
Strengths
- 100m water resistance covers swimming and watersports
- Sapphire crystal, which resists scratching
- Luminous hands and markers for low light
Price history
This watch is currently at its lowest recorded price. It reached £39,950 on 19 September. Prices are checked every day, and we record any changes.
Rolex Day-Date II alternatives
Watches from other brands at a similar price, style and size, so you can see what else your budget can buy.
| Specification |  218235 | 406001066490 | 85250/000P |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £31,455 | £29,596 | £30,995 |
| Case size | 41mm | 41mm | 40mm |
| Water resistance | 100m | 50m | 30m |
| Movement | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic |
| Strap | Stainless steel bracelet | Stainless steel bracelet | Leather strap |
| Power reserve | 48 hours | 40 hours | 43 hours |
| This watch |
|
|
Your new watch
Frequently asked questions, and things you should know about this watch
Can I swim with it?
Yes. At 100m it is rated for swimming and snorkelling, though not for diving.
Water resistance explainedWill the glass scratch?
Unlikely. Sapphire is second only to diamond in hardness and shrugs off everyday marking.
Sapphire, mineral and acrylic comparedDoes it need a battery?
No. It is automatic — the motion of your wrist winds it, and there is no cell to replace.
Quartz, automatic and solar comparedHow long does it run for when it's not worn?
About 48 hours fully wound — enough to survive a night off the wrist, but not a full weekend.
What size strap does it take?
21mm. Any strap of that width will fit, and on most modern watches quick-release bars make the swap a two-minute job with no tools.
Will it fit my wrist?
Lug-to-lug is 49.6mm, which suits wrists from roughly 16.5cm (6½ inches) upward.
Lug-to-lug decides fit more than case diameter does.
How to size a watch to your wristIs it a men's or women's watch?
Listed as men's.
Cheapest place to buy
Goldsmiths at £31,455 is the cheapest of 7 UK retailers, against £41,950 at the dearest — a difference of £10,495.
Has the price changed recently?
It's currently at its lowest recorded price since we began tracking it. It's ranged between £31,455 and £39,950, today it's £31,455.
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