As per its usual style, with the Day-Date 40 Rolex is doing what it always does and making it better. There are some changes in the dial and bracelet, some important changes in the movement, but it is still the classic day-date pattern originally introduced in 1956, in the waterproof Oyster case, with self–winding movement providing chronometric precision.
Case, dial and bracelet
The 40 mm case is in gold (white, yellow or Everose pink) or platinum. The dial features laser-etched motifs applied to a sunray finish, and hand-applied hour markers. The watch is fitted with the so-called “President” bracelet designed specifically for the 1956 Day-Date, with three rows of links that now incorporate ceramic inserts inside the links for greater durability. The bracelet has a redesigned clasp for easy and secure operation.
Calibre 3255 movement
The real innovations of the new Day-Date 40 are inside the movement, named calibre 3255 and specially designed and developed by Rolex for enhanced performance. Its precision has been increased to the point at which Rolex, though continuing to obtain COSC chronometer certification for all its movements (+4/-4 seconds precision per day), now also performs its own internal certification on the assembled watches, demanding a precision of +2/-2 seconds per day in simulated real-life use, an accuracy double that of COSC. This is truly exceptional precision, obtained by a whole series of design solutions but above all through the use of an optimized balance hairspring in niobium and zirconium alloy, with a redesigned Breguet overcoil that improves oscillation regularity in all positions. The large balance wheel can be precisely regulated by means of four gold Microstella nuts.
Increased power reserve
Rolex have redesigned the very heart of the movement, the lever escapement, improving its energy efficiency by changing the geometry of the escape wheel teeth and pallet jewels, using non-magnetic materials, and skeletonizing the escape wheel to make it lighter. All this increases the overall efficiency of the watch, giving it a power reserve of 72 hours, three days, significant for Rolex because it means that you can take the watch off on Friday evening, put it back on on Monday morning, and it will still be running. Other features of the gear-train have also been improved, and Rolex have even optimized their lubricants, increasing their stability and lifespan.
On the left, the standard Swiss lever escapement; on the right, the new Rolex Chronergy escapement with skeletonized escape wheel and new pallet geometry
Price and availability
Prices vary according to case and bracelet material. Reference 228238 is in yellow gold, and costs €30,850. Reference 228235 is in pink gold (Everose) and costs €33,350. Reference 228239 is in white gold and also costs €33,350. Reference 228206 is in platinum (the version shown here, with smooth bezel) and costs €55,450. The watches will be available from July-September 2015.
