Manufacturer: Rolex Year: 2008 Reference No: 218239 Case No: M852865 Model Name: Day-Date II Material: 18K white gold Calibre: Automatic, cal. 3156, 31 jewels Bracelet/Strap: 18K white gold Rolex President bracelet, max length 200mm Clasp/Buckle: 18K white gold Rolex deployant clasp Dimensions: 41mm Diameter Signed: Case, dial, movement and bracelet signed Accessories: Accompanied by Rolex guarantee dated November 8, 2008, hang tag, product literature, presentation box and outer packaging. Literature: The present watch is illustrated in Rolex Day-Date by Guido Mondani Editore, pages 272-273.
Catalogue Essay
Released in 2008, the Day-Date II was most notably cased in a 41mm diameter case - it was bigger and bolder than ever, offering proportions to the taste of modern standards. It stood in stark contrast to the original Day-Date launched in 1956, which displayed a 36mm case. Housed inside a beautiful white gold case is the reliable and robust cal. 3156 under a striking black dial with diamond markers.
The reference was discontinued in 2015 with the release of the Day-Date 40. Presented in excellent overall condition and further accompanied by the original guarantee and presentation box, the present example is a fantastic opportunity to acquire an attractive and luxurious wristwatch manufactured by none other than Rolex.
Founded in 1905 England by Hans Wilsdorf and Alfred Davis as Wilsdorf & Davis, it soon became known as the Rolex Watch Company in 1915, moving its headquarters to Geneva in 1919. Like no other company, the success of the wristwatch can be attributed to many of Rolex's innovations that made them one of the most respected and well-known of all luxury brands. These innovations include their famous "Oyster" case — the world's first water resistant and dustproof watch case, invented in 1926 — and their "Perpetual" — the first reliable self-winding movement for wristwatches launched in 1933. They would form the foundation for Rolex's Datejust and Day-Date, respectively introduced in 1945 and 1956, but also importantly for their sports watches, such as the Explorer, Submariner and GMT-Master launched in the mid-1950s.
One of its most famous models is the Cosmograph Daytona. Launched in 1963, these chronographs are without any doubt amongst the most iconic and coveted of all collectible wristwatches. Other key collectible models include their most complicated vintage watches, including references 8171 and 6062 with triple calendar and moon phase, "Jean Claude Killy" triple date chronograph models and the Submariner, including early "big-crown" models and military-issued variants.