Rolex Day-Date 40 228235 "President"

Rolex Day-Date 40 228235 specifications

The 228235 shares its case, movement and bracelet design with the other gold Day-Date 40s. What sets it apart, however, is 18 ct Everose, Rolex's own pink gold alloy, used for every metal part you see.

Specifications checked against Rolex and independent references, October 2026. MYR figures marked ≈ are converted at 4.08 MYR per USD.

History and reference evolution

Pink gold Day-Dates were once a niche choice. Everose changed that, because it solved the fading problem. Rolex patented the alloy in 2005. Since then, it has carried some of the most desired President models.

From the 218235 to the 228235

The 218235 was the Everose Day-Date II. It measured 41 mm, had wide lugs and used calibre 3156. Like its siblings, it also felt bulky for a dress watch, so buyers drifted away.

Rolex therefore replaced it in 2015. First, the 228235 went to 40 mm with slimmer, sculpted lugs. It also received calibre 3255, which brought a 70-hour reserve and the Chronergy escapement. On the wrist, then, the newer case looks more like a Day-Date should. That is also why most buyers now pay more for a 228235 than for a similar 218235.

The olive dial and the 60th anniversary

In 2016 the Day-Date turned 60. To mark it, Rolex also introduced a sunburst olive green dial with Roman numerals. The Everose version of that dial then quickly became the face of the modern Day-Date. Ten years on, it still sets the top of the 228235 market.

Chocolate is the other strong dial. Its warm brown suits the pink metal, while the chocolate diagonal motif adds texture. Sundust, a pale pink, still trails both. More recently, the slate ombré dial gave the reference a cooler, graduated look.

Jubilee Gold in 2026

In 2026, Rolex added an off-catalogue Day-Date 40 in a new Jubilee Gold alloy, recorded as 228235JG. However, it is priced separately, so our figures here do not cover it. Because the reference numbers look similar, make sure any listing you compare against is the regular Everose 228235.

228235 pre-owned prices compared

Bands reflect asking and achieved prices from 2 public market sources in October 2026, rounded. Retail for comparison: US$54,200. Prices move; use them as a sense-check, not a quote.

Against retail of US$54,200, an excellent full set at US$46,000 – US$53,000 trades about 9% under list at the midpoint. Meanwhile, tracked value rose roughly 10% over the past year. That is a slower climb than yellow gold, but from a stronger base of demand.

What moves the price of this reference

• Dial choice. Olive green and chocolate lead clearly, while sundust is the cheapest way in.
• Metal demand. Everose is the most wanted of the three gold Day-Date 40s, so a 228235 usually sells fastest.
• Jubilee Gold confusion. 228235JG pieces are priced on their own, so never value a standard watch against them, or the reverse.
• Bracelet and bezel. Stretch and rounded flutes both cut the price. In particular, Everose shows polishing as a slightly brighter, softer edge.
• Full set. As with any gold Rolex, the card matters for resale.

Where to check prices

The Malaysian list price is RM234,600, roughly 6% above the converted US figure. So a grey dealer in Kuala Lumpur asking near RM234,000 for a used olive dial is not cheap. Instead, compare it with Singapore and Hong Kong asks, plus global marketplace listings filtered by dial. Auction results are useful for the olive dial, since several sell each year. For pricing logic across references, see our used Rolex prices guide.

When a price is too good to be true

Our lowest band starts near US$37,000. So a full-set 228235 under that, about RM151,000, is a red flag. An olive dial at sundust money is an even bigger one. In both cases, ask why before you look further.

Genuine vs replica: how to check a 228235

Start with colour. Everose keeps a stable, soft pink. By contrast, plated fakes look coppery or orange and often wear through at the flute peaks and the link edges, where a paler base metal shows.

The crystal and the dial

Next, use a loupe on the crystal just above 6 o'clock. A genuine Day-Date 228235 has a tiny laser-etched coronet made of dots. In fact, it is hard to find without the right light.

Then check the olive dial itself. The sunburst should radiate cleanly from the centre. Also, the Roman numerals should be applied Everose, not painted. Also confirm the day window at 12 has the day written out in full and centred.

Movement behaviour

Next, set the time to 11:58 pm and let it run. With calibre 3255, the day and date both switch over quickly at midnight.

Bracelet, clasp and back

The President bracelet uses three-piece rounded links in solid Everose. When closed, the concealed Crownclasp disappears, leaving just a small coronet to lift.

The caseback, too, is plain, solid and screwed down. With the bracelet off, you should find 750 and Swiss assay hallmarks between the lugs. Our Rolex materials guide explains Everose in more detail.

What only a watchmaker can confirm

A watchmaker can open the case to verify calibre 3255, the blue Parachrom hairspring and correct bridge finishing. They can also tell whether the dial is Rolex or refinished. Our real vs fake Rolex guide covers the full process.

Who the 228235 suits, and the alternatives

The 228235 suits a buyer who wants gold without the classic yellow look. Many owners also find Everose softer and easier to wear than yellow gold. Size-wise, it also works on wrists from about 16.5 cm upward.

Prefer a smaller watch? Then the Day-Date 36 128235 offers the same metal at 36 mm. For classic yellow gold, look at the 228238. If you want an annual calendar and GMT in Everose, the Sky-Dweller 336935 is the obvious step up; our Sky-Dweller vs Day-Date page weighs the two.

Living with Everose

Everose scratches like any 18 ct gold. However, its colour stays the same under the scratches, so wear looks honest rather than patchy. Light desk marks on the clasp and bracelet are normal and do not hurt resale much.

Polishing is another matter. Each refinish takes a little gold off the flute tips, and buyers notice rounded edges. So when you send a Day-Date 40 228235 for service, say whether you want a polish. Bracelet sizing is worth getting right too. Extra links are valuable in solid gold, so make sure any removed links come back with the watch and stay with the set.

• 

  Day-Date 36 128235

  Everose gold President in 36 mm. The strongest Day-Date 36 on resale, led by olive and chocolate dials.

  Retail US$49,600 · Pre-owned US$44,000 – US$52,000

• 

  Sky-Dweller 336935

  Solid 18k Everose gold, 42 mm, calibre 9002. Chocolate, slate, white or blue-green dial. Trades near list.

  Retail US$63,700 · Pre-owned US$58,000 – US$64,000

228235 FAQ