Harmonious variations
An expression for every face. A personality for every dial. The new versions of the Oyster Perpetual Day-Date express the brand’s enduring desire for rare and wide-ranging expertise to be found in even the smallest details. Colours, materials, motifs, hour markers – each element contributes to the harmony of the new combinations.
Rolex is enriching the Day-Date range with new versions of the Oyster Perpetual Day-Date 40 and the Oyster Perpetual Day-Date 36 showcasing finely worked dials.
Ombré dials make their debut on the Day-Date 40. The version presented, in 18 ct Everose gold, introduces slate ombré – a completely new hue for such a dial, whose surface, coloured at the centre, progresses to a deep black around the edge. Also appearing for the first time on the ombré dial of this watch are faceted, deconstructed Roman numerals and faceted index hour markers in 18 ct pink gold. Until now, Rolex ombré dials were set with diamond hour markers and were reserved for the Day-Date 36. This new dial represents the continuity of a design that the brand introduced in the 1980s and relaunched in 2019. The manufacture of these dials with a concentric gradient involves the application of black lacquer, a delicate operation overseen by a specialist, whose task it is to ensure the harmonious transition from colour to darkness.
Fashioned from 18 ct white gold, a second new version of the Day-Date 40 features a dial made of pearlized white mother-of-pearl. This natural material is used on the model for the very first time. Extracted from the oldest and noblest part of the oyster shell, pearlized mother-of-pearl has a subtle, rich structure whose irregular texture evokes tiny overlapping clouds and gives a sense of volume. Every disc of material used to create a mother- ofpearl dial is meticulously selected for the harmony of its patterns and finesse of its iridescent effects, and is positioned in a way that optimizes the dial’s shine. On the version presented, the shimmer of the mother-of-pearl is further enhanced by the ten baguette-cut diamonds set onto the dial as hour markers.
The Day-Date 36 proposes a dial with faceted, deconstructed Roman numerals and faceted index hour markers, which were until now exclusive to the Day-Date 40. A new variant of the Day-Date 36 in 18 ct yellow gold reveals a white lacquer dial complemented by these now-emblematic hour markers with their perfect geometrical forms and uniformly smooth and shiny surface. Each element is crafted individually in a special workshop, undergoing no fewer than seven operations in the hands of an expert before being applied to the dial. For the first time, the Day-Date 36 in 18 ct Everose gold sports a blue-green dial – a colour introduced on the Sky-Dweller last year – which is adorned with ten baguette-cut diamonds. This dial of remarkable depth and intensity is notably available on a version of the watch whose bezel is set with 60 trapeze-cut diamonds. The creation of this bezel demands time and patience on the part of the gem-setter, who adjusts and sets each of the stones by hand. Until now, only the Day-Date 36 in 950 platinum and the Day-Date 40 in 18 ct gold or 950 platinum offered a bezel set with trapeze-cut diamonds.
Day-Date 40 and Day-Date 36 models are equipped with calibre 3255, a movement at the forefront of watchmaking technology, enabling them to display the day and the date, as well as the hours, minutes and seconds.
Like all Rolex watches, the Oyster Perpetual Day-Date 40 and Oyster Perpetual Day-Date 36 carry the Superlative Chronometer certification, which ensures excellent performance on the wrist.
Exclusivity according to Rolex
At its launch in 1956, the Day-Date was a major innovation: it was the first calendar wristwatch to indicate, in addition to the date, the day of the week spelt out in full in an arc-shaped window at 12 o’clock on the dial – a technical feat at the time. The day of the week is available in a choice of 26 languages. Watches in the Day-Date range are made only of precious metals – 18 ct yellow, white or Everose gold, or 950 platinum.
Worn by many of the world’s political figures, directors and visionaries, the Day-Date is instantly recognizable, in particular thanks to its emblematic President bracelet, whose evocative name, together with the eminent figures who have worn it, ensured the Day-Date became known as the ‘presidents’ watch’.
The Oyster case, symbol of waterproofness
A paragon of robustness and elegance, the Oyster case of the Day-Date 40 and Day-Date 36, measuring 40 mm and 36 mm respectively, is guaranteed waterproof to a depth of 100 metres (330 feet). The middle case of the versions presented is crafted from a solid block of 18 ct yellow, white or Everose gold. Its case back, edged with fine fluting, is hermetically screwed down with a special tool that allows only Rolex watchmakers to access the movement. The Twinlock winding crown, fitted with a double waterproofness system, screws down securely against the case. The crystal, which features a Cyclops lens at 3 o’clock for easy reading of the date, is made of virtually scratchproof sapphire and benefits from an anti-reflective coating. The waterproof Oyster case provides optimal protection for the movement it houses.
calibre 3255
The Day-Date 40 and the Day-Date 36 are equipped with calibre 3255, a movement entirely developed and manufactured by Rolex. Released in 2015, it was introduced on the former at its launch the same year and on the latter in 2019. A distillation of technology, this self-winding mechanical movement delivers outstanding performance, particularly in terms of precision, power reserve, convenience and reliability. Calibre 3255 incorporates the patented Chronergy escapement, which combines high energy efficiency with great dependability. Made of nickel-phosphorus, this escapement is resistant to strong magnetic fields. The movement is fitted with a blue Parachrom hairspring, manufactured by Rolex in a paramagnetic alloy. The hairspring offers great stability in the face of temperature variations as well as high resistance to shocks. It is equipped with a Rolex overcoil, ensuring the calibre’s regularity in any position. The oscillator is mounted on the Rolex-designed, patented high-performance Paraflex shock absorbers, increasing the movement’s shock resistance. Since 2023, the oscillating weight has been fitted with an optimized ball bearing.
Calibre 3255 is equipped with a selfwinding system via a Perpetual rotor. Thanks to its barrel architecture and the escapement’s superior efficiency, the power reserve of this movement extends to approximately 70 hours.
President bracelet
The Day-Date 40 and the Day-Date 36 are fitted on a President bracelet. Created specially for the launch of the prestigious Oyster Perpetual Day-Date in 1956, this three-piece link bracelet, made only from 18 ct gold or 950 platinum, is still reserved exclusively for the Day-Date and precious metal versions of the Datejust.
The President bracelet is in 18 ct Everose gold for the Day-Date 40 with the slate ombré dial and the Day-Date 36 with the blue-green dial; it is in 18 ct white gold for the Day-Date 40 with the pearlized white mother-of-pearl dial and in 18 ct yellow gold for the Day-Date 36 with the white lacquer dial. The bracelet is equipped with an elegant concealed folding Crownclasp and includes patented ceramic inserts – designed by Rolex – inside the links to enhance its flexibility on the wrist and its longevity.
Superlative Chronometer certification
Like all Rolex watches, the Oyster Perpetual Day-Date 40 and the Oyster Perpetual Day-Date 36 are covered by the Superlative Chronometer certification redefined by Rolex in 2015. This designation testifies that every watch leaving the brand’s workshops has successfully undergone a series of tests conducted by Rolex in its own laboratories according to its own criteria, following the official certification of the movements by the Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute (COSC). The in-house certification tests apply to the fully assembled watch, after casing the movement, guaranteeing superlative performance on the wrist in terms of precision, power reserve, waterproofness and self-winding. The precision of a Rolex Superlative Chronometer is of the order of −2/+2 seconds per day – the rate deviation tolerated by the brand for a finished watch is significantly smaller than that accepted by COSC for official certification of the movement alone.
The Superlative Chronometer status is symbolized by the green seal that comes with every Rolex watch and is coupled with an international five-year guarantee.
