The Oyster Perpetual Day-Date 40 in 18 ct yellow gold with a green ombré dial, fluted bezel and a President bracelet.

The Rolex fluted bezel is a mark of distinction. Originally, the fluting of the Oyster bezel had a functional purpose: it served to screw the bezel onto the case helping to ensure the waterproofness of the watch. It was therefore identical to the fluting on the case back, which was also screwed onto the case for waterproofness, using specific Rolex tools. Over time, the fluting became an aesthetic element, a genuine Rolex signature feature. Today the fluted bezel is a mark of distinction, in gold on this Day-Date 40.

The ombré dial features a coloured surface at the centre, progresses to a deep black around the edge. This dial represents the continuity of a design that Rolex 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.

By operating its own exclusive foundry, Rolex has the unrivalled ability to cast the highest quality 18 ct gold alloys. According to the proportion of silver, copper, platinum or palladium added, different types of 18 ct gold are obtained: yellow, pink or white. They are made with only the purest metals and meticulously inspected in an in-house laboratory with state-of-the-art equipment, before the gold is formed and shaped with the same painstaking attention to quality. Rolex's commitment to excellence begins at the source.

The design, development and production of Rolex bracelets and clasps, as well as the stringent tests they face, involve advanced high technology. And, as with all the components of the watch, aesthetic controls by the human eye guarantee impeccable beauty. The President bracelet, with its semi-circular three piece links, was created in 1956 for the launch of the Oyster Perpetual Day-Date. It represents the ultimate in refinement and comfort and is always made of carefully selected precious metals.

Initially presented in 1956, the Day-Date was a world first. The first watch to indicate the day of the week spelt out in full. Worn by many world leaders, the Day-Date is available with a bespoke day display in a wide choice of languages.

The Cyclops lens is one of the most distinctive Rolex features, and one of the most recognizable. Named after the one-eyed giant of Greek mythology, the Cyclops lens magnifies the watch’s emblematic date display for easy reading. Behind the Cyclops, as with every feature of a Rolex timepiece, lies a history of invention, research and development, and the endless search for perfection.

The Day-Date 40 is equipped with a new-generation movement, calibre 3255, entirely developed and manufactured by Rolex for a superlative level of performance. This self-winding mechanical movement is at the forefront of the art of watchmaking. A consummate demonstration of Rolex technology, with 14 patents, it offers fundamental gains in terms of precision, power reserve, resistance to shocks and magnetism, ease of use and reliability.

Dial

• Dial : Green ombré

Case

• Case : Oyster, 40 mm, yellow gold
• Oyster architecture : Monobloc middle case, screw-down case back and winding crown
• Diameter : 40 mm
• Material : 18 ct yellow gold
• Bezel : Fluted
• Winding crown : Screw-down, Twinlock double waterproofness system
• Crystal : Scratch-resistant sapphire, Cyclops lens over the date
• Water resistance : Waterproof to 100 metres / 330 feet

Movement

• Movement : Perpetual, mechanical, self-winding
• Calibre : 3255, Manufacture Rolex
• Precision : -2/+2 sec/day, after casing
• Certification : Superlative Chronometer (COSC + Rolex certification after casing)
• Functions : Centre hour, minute and seconds hands. Instantaneous day and date in apertures, secure rapid-setting. Stop-seconds for exact time setting
• Oscillator : Paramagnetic blue Parachrom hairspring. High-performance Paraflex shock absorbers
• Winding : Bidirectional self-winding via Perpetual rotor
• Power reserve : Approximately 70 hours

Bracelet

• Bracelet : President, semi-circular three-piece links
• Material : 18 ct yellow gold
• Clasp : Concealed folding Crownclasp