Notes: The President Day-Date reference 228238 took Basel World by storm in 2015 with a modern take on the beloved Rolex staple. Its refined design is noticeable from the moment you put it on your wrist. While the Oyster case is an impressive 40mm, it is designed with a cupped case back for a sleeker, less bulky fit on the wrist than traditional large case watches. The sharp, deliberate cuts on the matching 18 karat yellow gold fluted bezel match perfectly with the faceted Roman hour markers on the silver dial, giving this luxury watch an impeccable beauty. The coordinating President bracelet features an equally impressive design with a sleek concealed Crownclasp and semi-circular three-piece links. Ceramic coated pins within the President bracelet offer an incredibly smooth and supple fit on the wrist that won't stretch or loosen over time. A satin and polished finish on the links creates a formal dress watch design that will look and feel impressive on the wrist. The Day-Date reference 228238 utilizes Rolex's brand new calibre 3255 perpetual movement complete with a Chronergy escapement with optimized energy efficiency, an upgraded power reserve of 70 hours, and a Paramagnetic blue Parachrom hairspring with an increased resistance to magnetic fields.

Mechanism: Originally announced at Baselworld 2015. Rolex claims the new caliber 3255 is two times more precise than an officially certified chronometer. The technology within is protected by 14 patents acquired by “The Crown”. One of the patents includes the Paramagnetic Oscillator with new balance staff that offers enhanced resistance to magnetism.

Rolex is introducing calibre 3255, a new-generation mechanical movement with 14 patents, which sets new standards of performance for the core characteristics of a watch movement: precision, power reserve, reliability, resistance to shocks and magnetism, as well as the ease and convenience of its adjustment.

Calibre 3255’s criteria for precision in everyday wear are twice as exacting as those for an officially certified chronometer. It incorporates the new Chronergy escapement patented by Rolex, which combines high energy efficiency with great dependability. Made of nickel‑phosphorus, it is also insensitive to magnetic interference. The oscillator, the true heart of the watch, has an optimized blue Parachrom hairspring, which is also up to 10 times more precise than a traditional hairspring in case of shocks. Thanks to a new barrel architecture and the escapement’s superior efficiency, the power reserve of calibre 3255 extends to three days. This means the watch will easily continue to run from Friday evening into Monday afternoon even if not worn or wound.

Family Notes: For over fifty years, the Rolex President was exclusively available with a 36mm case. For some, this was too small for a men’s watch, even for a dress timepiece. So in 2008, the Swiss watchmaker unveiled a much larger Rolex President with the Day-Date II. Then, seven short years later, Rolex introduced yet another version of the Presidential watch with the Day-Date 40, which in fact replaced the President II. Today we explore the differences and similarities between the Day-Date II and the Day-Date 40 so you can determine which Rolex President is the right fit for you.

On paper, the Oyster case of the Day-Date II watch measures 41mm while the Day-Date 40 measures 40mm (Who would have guessed?). Although on the outset the 1mm difference may seem trivial, wearing the watch is a different story. Due to its thicker lugs, chunkier build, and wider bezel, the Day-Date II fits much larger than the 1mm variance suggests.