Rolex Day Date 40 Diamond Ref. 228238

About the brand 

Rolex is a Swiss luxury watch company that has a 116-year history of innovation in both marketing and precision engineering. The company was founded in 1905 by Hans Wilsdorf and Alfred Davis in London. The name "Rolex" was inspired by Wilsdorf while he was riding on a double-decker bus, as it was a unique combination of letters that could be easily pronounced in any language. In 1910, Rolex became the first wristwatch retailer to receive an independently ratified Chronometric Certification. In 1919, the company moved to Geneva due to a 33% tax on custom imports in England.

In 1944, Wilsdorf founded the Hans Wilsdorf Foundation after the passing of his wife Florence. The foundation works as a private family trust and donates proceeds from Wilsdorf's shares in the company to different charitable causes. In 1960, ownership of the company was passed on to the foundation upon Wilsdorf's death. In 2017, the foundation donated $100 million to HEAD's campus, an applied arts school in Geneva.

Throughout its history, Rolex has made many technical innovations, including the first waterproof watch in 1926, the first automatic winding wristwatch in 1931, and the first self-winding chronometer in 1945. The company has also been associated with many historic events, such as the first submarine to reach the bottom of the Mariana Trench in 1960, and the first moon landing in 1969.

Today, Rolex continues to be a leading luxury watch brand, known for its commitment to quality and innovation. Its watches are recognized worldwide for their precision, elegance, and durability.

The watch

The Rolex Day-Date, also known as the President, is one of the brand’s signature timepieces. The traditional Day-Date measures 36mm while Rolex has also released larger versions in 40mm and 41mm. Now, the Day-Date 40 is the latest iteration of the Rolex President having made its debut at Baselworld 2015. It is in fact, the replacement of the 41mm Day-Date II.

Specifications