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Rolex Day-Date 40
Ref. 228235
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Stepping up in Rolex's range
The Day-Date has been on the wrist of heads of state and chief executives since 1956 — the first watch certified to display the full spelling of the day alongside the date. The 40mm generation, arriving in 2015, brought the calibre 3255 with it: a movement built entirely in-house to a tolerance of minus two to plus two seconds per day, with a Chronergy escapement that runs some fifteen per cent more efficiently than its predecessor and a Parachrom hairspring that shrugs off both magnetic fields and sudden impacts. The case and President bracelet are both solid Everose gold, Rolex's own alloy produced at their private foundry and formulated specifically not to redden or fade with age. That matters on a watch this colour: the olive green dial, with its sunburst depth, reads differently against a gold that holds its tone. The Crownclasp conceals itself completely within the bracelet, leaving no visible interruption along the underside of the wrist — a small detail that the bracelet's semi-circular three-piece links make possible, and which distinguishes the President from every other gold bracelet in the range.
- Reference
- 228235
- Brand
- Rolex
- Collection
- Day-Date 40
- Case size
- 40mm
- Case thickness
- 12mm
- Lug width
- 20mm
- Case material
- Rose gold
- Case shape
- Round
- Dial
- Grey
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Movement
- Automatic
- Calibre
- 3255
- 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
- Power reserve
- 70 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 5 collections
This watch appears in Automatic Watches (1,693), Pre-Owned, Ex-Display & Vintage Watches (344), Watch Price Drops (314), Grey Dial Watches (236) and Solid Gold Watches (160).
2-year Goldsmiths warranty
What the specifications mean
A mechanical watch for everyday wear.
Strengths
- 100m water resistance covers swimming and watersports
- 40mm suits most wrists
- Sapphire crystal, which resists scratching
- 70-hour reserve survives a weekend off the wrist
- Luminous hands and markers for low light
Price history
This watch is currently at its lowest recorded price. It reached £41,950 on 18 September. Prices are checked every day, and we record any changes.
Rolex Day-Date 40 alternatives
Watches from other brands at a similar price, style and size, so you can see what else your budget can buy.
| Specification |  228235 | 5235G-001 | 26120ST.OO.1220ST.03 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £37,755 | £36,950 | £39,950 |
| Case size | 40mm | 40.5mm | 39mm |
| Water resistance | 100m | 30m | 50m |
| Movement | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic |
| Strap | Stainless steel bracelet | Leather strap | Stainless steel bracelet |
| Power reserve | 70 hours | 48 hours | 38 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 70 hours fully wound — enough to sit off the wrist over a weekend and still be running.
What size strap does it take?
20mm. 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.
Is it a men's or women's watch?
Listed as men's, though at 40mm it sits in the range that suits anyone.
Cheapest place to buy
Goldsmiths at £37,755, against £53,450 at Goldsmiths. Two UK retailers stock this reference.
Has the price changed recently?
It's currently at its lowest recorded price since we began tracking it. It's ranged between £37,755 and £41,950, today it's £37,755.
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