Rolex Day-Date 36
+8 % above RRP
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ℹ️ 1-month trend
Price change over the past 30 days. Shows the short-term market movement — relevant if you want to buy or sell soon.
ℹ️ 4-month trend
The central metric behind the momentum score. It filters out short-term swings and shows the true, medium-term market trend of this reference.
ℹ️ Volatility
Annualised price fluctuation. Below 10 % = very stable, 10–20 % = normal, above 20 % = volatile. With high volatility the price can change quickly — in both directions. Be cautious about buying without checking the current price.
ℹ️ Momentum score
ChronoCheck's own indicator from 0 to 100, calculated from the 4-month trend, volatility and market direction.
- Above 60 — Upward trend. Good time to sell, prices are rising.
- 40 – 60 — Neutral. Stable price level, no pressure to act.
- Below 40 — Downward trend. Wait or enter at a good price.
ℹ️ Investment Grade A/B/C/D
ChronoCheck's own rating for each reference. A 0–100 point scale, made up of four weighted components:
- Momentum (40 pts) — trend strength from the momentum score.
- Liquidity (25 pts) — number of active live listings.
- Stability (20 pts) — inverse volatility — the calmer, the better.
- Source robustness (15 pts) — number of independent market sources.
- A · 75+ Trend is right, liquidity good, data broad.
- B · 55–74 Solid, but one component weaker.
- C · 35–54 Average, volatility or market breadth weigh on it.
- D · below 35 Downward or too little data — a collector's piece.
Not investment advice. Pure data analysis from aggregated market sources.
The current market value of the Rolex Day-Date 36 (Ref. 118235) is $34,548. The trend points up (plus 16.1% over four months). Last sold at auction: $25,761 (Sotheby's, 09/2026).
What if you had bought back then …
What would a purchase at the median market price back then have become — at today's level of $34,548. A pure return calculation, excluding insurance, servicing and transaction costs.
Data from an aggregated median time series (watch_market_daily). CAGR = Compound Annual Growth Rate, normalized to 365 days. Not an investment recommendation.
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Technical data
Lift angle 52° — important for timing-machine diagnosis: with this value a watchmaker can correctly measure rate deviation, amplitude and beat error. ChronoCheck verifies such technical details directly from the manufacturers' factory specifications.
Rolex Ref. 118235 — Variants and collector names
Known as: Rolex President, President's Watch, Everose Day-Date 36, Rose Gold President 36
Production phases and changes
- 2000: Introduction of the 6-digit 118XXX reference (Day-Date 36)
- 2005: Introduction of Everose gold and rehaut serial number
- 2008: Discontinuation of the 6 o'clock flange engraving
- 2010: Switch to randomized serial numbers
- 2019: Discontinuation of the 118XXX line, successor 128235 with Cal. 3255
Movement variants
- 3155 (2000–2019) · 28800 bph
Bezel variants
- Fluted Bezel 18k Everose Gold "Fluted Bezel"
Dial variants
- 118235-Black-Index — Day@12h / Date@3h
- 118235-Champagne-Diamond-Index
- Chocolate Diamond
- Chocolate Stick
- Dark MOP Diamond
- 118235-MOP-White-Oxford-Diamond
- Meteorite Diamond
- 118235-Pink-Champagne-Diamond
- 118235-Pink-Roman
- Sundust Diamond
- 118235-Rhodium-Index
- 118235-White-Roman
Crystal variants
- Saphirglas mit Cyclops
Bracelet variants
- President Ref. 78200
Serial numbers
- Y000001 – A999999 (2000–2001) — Sequential letter-prefix serials. Serial engraved between the lugs at 6 o'clock. Y = approx. 1999/2000, A = approx. 2000/2001 (Rolex overlaps possible).
- P000001 – G999999 (2000–2009) — Non-sequential letter sequence (R, L, E, X, N, C, P, K, V, Z, D, G). Rolex did not use B, I, J, O, Q. Through approximately 2005 between the lugs at 6 o'clock, from 2005 additionally on the rehaut.
- randomized – randomized (2010–2019) — From approximately 2010/2011, fully randomized 8-digit serial numbers with no year assignment. Datable only via warranty card or Rolex service documents. Engraved exclusively on the rehaut.
The 118235 is not a Rolex that quietly slots into a lineup. Introduced in 2000, the six-digit 118XXX series opened a new chapter for the Day-Date 36 — fully solid bracelets with SEL and a case that Rolex, five years later, would endow with a proprietary gold alloy.
2005 was the pivotal year: Rolex patented Everose, an 18k rose gold incorporating a platinum component for permanent color stability. Every 118235 from that vintage onward runs in Everose. At the same time, the serial number moved to the rehaut for the first time — exclusively there from 2008 onward, with the six-o'clock flank engraving discontinued. Anyone checking the flank between the lugs at purchase can date the watch to before 2008 on the spot.
## Twelve dials, one movement
Inside sits the Calibre 3155 throughout — an in-house Rolex movement, Chronometer-certified. The dial selection for the 118235 is unusually broad: 12 known variants, among them the Meteorite Diamond, Chocolate Diamond, Sundust Diamond, and the Dark MOP Diamond. Rose and champagne tones dominate the offering, with a black index dial at the most understated end of the range.
## Why 2019 would have been the right moment to buy
In 2019, Rolex discontinued the 118235. Its successor, the 128235, brought the Calibre 3255 with a 70-hour power reserve and 14 patents — a clear step forward on paper. On the market, that translated into something equally tangible for the 118235: a confirmed production close and unambiguous reference status. The President bracelet remains the only bracelet option on the successor; the Oyster alternative was dropped. Pricing reflects that discontinued standing — those who understand the arc of the Everose Day-Date buy the 118235 with full context.
Brand profile: Rolex
Rolex is the most counterfeited watch brand in the world. Super-clones (VSF, ARF, Clean — the latter inactive since a 07/2025 raid, only old stock remains) reach 95%+ similarity. Authenticity is almost always only identifiable through micro-details and caliber behavior.
- Case back: ALWAYS solid and closed — any viewing window means definitely fake (exception: vintage Ref. 6085 only)
- Minute hand length: genuine Rolex minute hands end EXACTLY at the minute chapter ring. 1 mm too long = fake. The strongest VSF tell.
- Seconds hand: smooth sweep without any hesitation — the slightest tick-tock means fake
- Cyclops lens (on Date models): must magnify exactly 2.5×, the date should nearly fill the entire window
Serial number format: Since 2010, a random alphanumeric combination (e.g. 'G3M9K721'). 2000-2010: a letter plus 6-7 digits. Serial number engraved on the rehaut at 6 o'clock (from ~2005 on). Older models: between the lug holes at 6 o'clock on the case.
Further sources
Buying guide: Rolex Day-Date 36
What drives the price here
At $34,548 the watch sells well if the condition is right. A market rule of thumb: a complete set with box, papers and warranty card brings 10 to 15 percent more than the bare watch. Buying without papers can pay off, but you take the same discount again later when you resell.
Where the price stands
The price of the Day-Date 36 has risen by +16.1% over the past four months. Anyone selling now hits a good window. If you want to buy: no need to wait — the market is currently more hot than cold, and a clear end to the trend is not in sight.
Watch out for swings: This reference has an above-average volatility of 60.2 percent. In concrete terms: the price can move by several hundred euros within a few weeks. Check the current value before buying or selling — old listings or auction results from two months ago are of little help.
What to look out for when buying?
- Authenticity: The serial number and reference on the case must match the papers. A professional authenticity check of the Rolex Day-Date 36 reliably rules out counterfeits.
- Condition: Check scratches on the case and bezel — professional refurbishment can leave traces.
- Service history: A documented service by the manufacturer or a certified watchmaker increases the value.
- Scope of delivery: Box, papers and warranty card make a noticeable price difference on the Day-Date 36.
- Independent certification: The CPS-52 standard covers 52 checkpoints — from the serial number and the timing machine to water resistance. The result is secured on the blockchain and can be verified at any time.
Check the market value live now
Interactive price analysis with momentum indicator and buy/sell signal.
Go to the market value tool →Auction results Rolex Day-Date 36 118235
Recent hammer prices for this reference from international auction houses:
| Price | House | Date |
|---|---|---|
| $25,761 | Sotheby's | 09/2026 |
| $19,766 | Sotheby's | 12/2025 |
| $25,560 | Sotheby's | 09/2025 |
| $30,672 | Sotheby's | 09/2025 |
| $37,192 | Christie's | 11/2022 |