How Much Does a Rolex Day-Date Cost? The Ultimate Rolex Day Date Price Guide
Rolex Day-Date prices start at $36,500 for a 36mm version and $40,100 for a 40mm version when purchased brand new from an authorized dealer at retail prices. However, the retail prices of a Day-Date, also known as a Rolex President watch, can quickly increase from there depending on the case and bracelet materials, as well as the use of diamonds. What’s more, prices of pre-owned Rolex Day-Date watches vary wildly on the secondary market with factors such as age, condition, style, and materials all impacting the overall cost. For instance, the cost of an older secondhand Day-Date President in yellow gold can start as low as $8,000 (with leather straps) and $10,000 (with bracelets) while a highly collectible platinum Day-Date with an ice-blue dial and numbers written in Arabic can cost over $100,000. Our Rolex Day Date price guide below covers all the bases.
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Although secondhand Rolex Day-Date prices were often well over MSRP in 2022, at this point the vast majority of configurations are available secondhand for less than retail price. Using our comprehensive list of prices detailed below, you can get a clear idea of what the cost of a Rolex Day-Date President watch would be to buy – whether vintage, neo-vintage, or modern.
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Brief History of the Rolex Day-Date
In 1956, Rolex unveiled a new watch model called the Day-Date, which was the world’s first chronometer wristwatch that featured two windows to indicate the date and the day of the week written in full. The original reference of 1956, the ref. 6510, had a 36 mm Oyster case and a screw-in crown, ensuring the watch was water resistant. For the next four decades, Rolex exclusively made the Day-Date available with a 36mm case. The Rolex Day-Date was priced above all other models aside from precious metal Daytonas.
The signature design of the Rolex Day-Date, with its two windows (the day window at twelve o’clock and the date window at three o’clock), was reputedly made to improve the readability of the watch when worn under the cuff of the shirt, and only half-exposed.
Over the years, the day indication has been translated into as many as 26 different languages: English, Spanish, Dutch, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Arabic, German, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Chinese, Danish, Basque, Catalan, Ethiopian, Finnish, French, Greek, Hebrew, Moroccan, Norwegian, Farsi, Swedish, and Turkish.
Like many iconic watches, the Day-Date has changed very little from its introduction in 1956 and has continuously been refined to suit its customers’ desires. For instance, Rolex has added larger sizes to the collection to sit alongside the original 36mm version.
- 1956: Rolex introduces the 36mm Day-Date collection
- 2000: Rolex introduces the 39mm Day-Date Masterpiece
- 2008: Rolex introduces the 41mm Day-Date II collection
- 2015: Rolex replaces Day-Date II with Day-Date 40
In 2008, Rolex introduced a 41mm version of the same watch, the Day-Date II, but replaced it with a 40mm version in 2015, aptly called the Day-Date 40. The current Rolex Day-Date catalog now offers two sizes: 36mm and 41mm.
The Rolex Day-Date has housed several movements (including a quartz one) and is available in vast combinations of materials, dials, and bezels – between which the typical fluted one is the best-known.
Additionally, as with most Rolex timepieces, these watches are complemented by matching bracelets. While Rolex has paired the Day-Date with leather straps, curvy Pearlmaster bracelets, and sporty Oyster bracelets in the past, the classic choice is the semi-circular three-link President bracelet, which was originally designed for the very first Day-Date reference.
What Impacts the Cost of a Rolex Day-Date?
As mentioned, several factors will affect the price of a Day-Date including age, the rarity of a reference, diamond embellishments, and case materials. Even dials will have an impact on the cost. For example, “Stella” dials dating from the 1970s, which are colorful enamel dials in shades like red, blue, green, salmon, yellow, and green, are highly collectible and rare, therefore quite expensive.
The Day-Date President is only available in precious metals, like gold and platinum. There are no steel or Rolesor (steel and gold) versions. This fact explains its rarity and its high price point.
As always, you can look at the last digit of the Rolex reference number (five- or six-digit reference numbers only) to indicate the material used to make the watch:
- 8 = 18k Yellow Gold, e.g. Day-Date ref. 228238
- 9 = 18k White Gold, e.g. Day-Date ref. 228239
- 5 = 18k Everose Gold, e.g. Day-Date ref. 228235
- 6 = 950 Platinum, e.g. Day-Date ref. 228236
It’s important to point out that Rolex prices the yellow gold versions of the Day-Date less than the white and Everose gold versions. Of course, platinum Day-Dates are the most expensive of all. Rolex also made Tridor versions of the Day-Date for a short time, which combines yellow, white, and rose gold elements on one watch.
Note that customized and personalized Day-Date watches are much less valuable in the market than original variants – even if thousands of dollars worth of diamonds have been added. Aftermarket modifications will have a significant negative impact on the price of a Rolex Day-Date.
How Much Does a Vintage Rolex Day-Date Cost?
The most common vintage Rolex Day-Date, ref. 1803, can be found for around $12,000 in good condition or about $7,500 without a bracelet. But that wasn’t the first model. The earliest Day-Date references were the ref. 6510 and the ref. 6511. These two references are among the rarest of the Rolex Day-Date lineup; they were only in production for just over a year due to some mechanical deficiencies. Following these, Rolex produced the ref. 66xx series of Day-Date watches, which benefited from improved movements, until 1959.
In 1959, Rolex found its stride with the Day-Date 18xx series, powered by better higher-beat movements. Rolex also expanded the collection with a range of exotic bezels, and while the vast majority were crafted in yellow gold, some white gold and rose gold models were made as well. Note that all of these early Day-Dates lacked quickset functionality, so to set the date, you simply had to advance the time over and over.
- 1956-1957: Day-Date 65xx Series (Caliber 1055)
- Ref. 6510
- Ref. 6511
- 1957-1959: Day-Date 66xx Series (Improved Caliber 1055)
- Ref. 6611
- Ref. 6612
- Ref. 6613
- 1959-1978: Day-Date 180x Series (Caliber 1555/1556)
- Ref. 1802 (Smooth bezel)
- Ref. 1803 (Fluted bezel)
- Ref. 1804 (Diamond bezel)
- Ref. 1806 (Florentine bezel)
- Ref. 1807 (Bark bezel)
- Ref. 1811 (Morellis bezel)
- 1978-1988: Day-Date 180xx Series (Caliber 3055)
- Ref. 18028 (Yellow gold, smooth bezel)
- Ref. 18038 (Yellow gold, fluted bezel)
- Ref. 18048 (Yellow gold, diamond bezel)
- Ref. 18078 (Yellow gold, bark bezel)
- Ref. 18039 (White gold, fluted bezel)
- Ref. 18049 (White gold, diamond bezel)
- Ref. 18079 (White gold, bark bezel)
- Ref. 18026 (Platinum, smooth bezel)
Vintage Rolex Day-Date watches can include any models produced from 1956 to the end of the 1980s. However, the most commonly found ones in today’s market will be the four-digit 180x and five-digit 180xx references. Here are the most common 4-digit vintage Rolex Day-Date prices, assuming an intact bracelet. Head-only examples can be found for thousands less. Also note that a colorful lacquered Stella dial can easily double the price of a Rolex Day-Date. Non-English day discs can also increase the price, even though Rolex Service Centers are often still willing to swap different languages in during a service upon request.
4-Digit Vintage Rolex Day-Date Values
| Day-Date Ref. | Avg. Market Price Oct. 2024 | Case Material | Bezel |
| 6611 | $20,000 | Yellow gold | Fluted |
| 6612 | $25,000 | Yellow gold | Fluted |
| 1802 | $14,200 | Yellow gold, white gold, rose gold, or platinum | Smooth |
| 1803 | $12,900 | Yellow gold, white gold, or rose gold | Fluted |
| 1804 | $15,000 | Yellow gold or white gold | Diamond |
| 1806 | $37,000 | Yellow gold | Florentine |
| 1807 | $11,900 | Yellow gold or white gold | Barked |
| 1811 | $27,750 | Yellow gold | Morellis |
How Much Does an Oysterquartz Rolex Day-Date Cost?
Contrary to popular belief, Rolex has made its fair share of quartz models throughout its history. One example is the Oysterquartz Day-Date, introduced in 1977 and powered by the in-house-made Caliber 5055 quartz movement.
While the Oysterquartz Day-Date watch shared many design similarities with its self-winding Day-Date counterparts, the quartz version stands out for its very 1970s-style angular case shape and integrated bracelet.
Rolex made several Oysterquartz Day-Date models over the decades, but the most common is the yellow gold reference 19018, followed by the white gold reference 19019. There are some ultra-luxurious and highly rare versions of the Oysterquartz Day-Date, embellished with diamonds and other precious gems.
1977-2002: Oysterquartz Day-Date 19xxx Series (Quartz Caliber 5055)
Though the Oysterquartz series was in production for about 25 years, it’s estimated that Rolex only ever made 25,000 examples – including both Oysterquartz Datejust models and Oysterquartz Day-Date models. Here we’ll show you a chart of market prices for every Rolex Day-Date Oysterquartz reference. Prices are for standard dials, but note that special dials can cost far more–the stunning burlwood dials can easily add $8,000 to the value. Although Rolex Day-Date prices have come down overall in the past few years, Oysterquartz Day-Date prices have actually slightly increased.
Oysterquartz Day-Date Price Chart
| Reference Number | Market Price (Oct. 2024) | Case Material | Bezel | Bracelet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19018 | $13,150 | Yellow gold | Fluted | President |
| 19019 | $26,500 | White gold | Fluted | President |
| 19028 | $30,350 | Yellow gold | Pyramid | Pyramid President |
| 19038 | $27,750 | Yellow gold | Pyramid+diamond | Pyramid President |
| 19048 | $23,400 | Yellow gold | Diamond | President |
| 19049 | $35,000 | White gold | Diamond | President |
| 19058 | $80,000-$200,000 | Yellow gold | Square-cut diamond or ruby | President |
| 19068 | $29,000 | Yellow gold | Diamond | Pyramid President |
| 19078 | $300,000 | Yellow gold | Rainbow sapphire | President |
| 19148 | $60,000 | Yellow gold | Trapezoidal Diamond | Diamond President |
| 19158 | $230,000 | Yellow gold | Gradient sapphire (semi-rainbow) | President |
| 19168 | $175,000-$300,000 | Yellow gold | Baguette gem-set (ruby, diamond or blue sapphire) | Octopussy |
| 19178 | $100,000+ | Yellow gold | 8 square-cut gems at the top and bottom (rubies, sapphires, or emeralds) with 15 round diamonds on each side | President |
| 19188 | $100,000+ | Yellow gold | Alternating pattern of 6 rubies and 5 diamonds | Diamond President |
| 19198 | $100,000+ | Yellow gold | Alternating pattern of 3 gems (rubies, sapphires, or emeralds) and 1 diamond | Diamond President |
Single-Quickset Models
The five-digit reference Day-Date 180xx series, produced from 1977-1988, is powered by the Caliber 3055 movement. Thankfully, the 3055 has quickset functionality, so the date can be quickly set. However, the day still has to be set by advancing the time, which is why these are called “single-quickset” or just “single-quick” Day-Dates.
| Day-Date Ref. | Avg. Market Price (Oct. 2024) | Case Material | Bezel |
| 18038 | $13,000 | Yellow gold | Fluted |
| 18039 | $14,000 | White gold | Fluted |
| 18039BIC | $15,000 | White gold (Tridor) | Fluted yellow gold |
| 18129BIC | $27,000 | White gold (Tridor) | Diamond |
Rolex watches from this era have an appealing mix of old and new. For instance, they have slim brushed lugs with older-style bracelets. However, they also benefit from modern touches like glossy dials with applied gold indexes, sapphire crystals, and higher-beat movements.
1988-2000: Day-Date 182xx Series and 183xx Series (Caliber 3155)
In 1988, Rolex debuted a new Day-Date movement called the Caliber 3155, which featured a double quickset to allow both the date and day to be set independently from the center hands. To house this movement, Rolex released the Day-Date President 182xx series. Rolex also manufactured the lavish gem-set Day-Date 183xx series during the same era, however, in much fewer quantities. Typically a double-quickset neo-vintage Rolex Day-Date price will be a couple grand above a similar single-quick one. There’s no hard-and-fast definition for the term “neo-vintage,” but it is often applied to watches from roughly this era.
Double-Quickset Neo-Vintage Day-Date Prices
| Reference | Market Price (Oct. 2024) | Case Material | Bezel |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18238 | $15,150 | Yellow gold | Fluted |
| 18248 | $18,250 | Yellow gold | Bark |
| 18239 | $16,250 | White gold | Fluted |
| 18239BIC | $17,000 | White gold (Tridor) | Yellow gold fluted |
| 18249 | $28,000 | White gold | Barked |
| 18208 | $15,000 | Yellow gold | Smooth |
| 18206 | $27,000 | Platinum | Smooth |
| 18308 | $20,000 | Yellow gold | Barked with diamonds |
| 18338 | $21,000 | Yellow gold w/diamond lugs | Fluted |
| 18348 | $21,000 | Yellow gold | Diamond |
| 18388 | $27,000 | Yellow gold w/diamond lugs | Diamond |
| 18349 | $19,500 | White gold | Diamond |
| 18349BIC | $19,700 | White gold (Tridor) | Diamond |
| 18389 | $29,000 | White gold w/diamond lugs | Diamond |
| 18346 | $28,000 | Platinum | Diamond |
How Much Does a Rolex Day-Date Masterpiece Cost?
Introduced in 2000, the Masterpiece was a special collection of Day-Date watches that had 39mm cases, diamond embellishments, and Pearlmaster bracelets rather than the traditional President bracelets. Rolex manufactured the Day-Date Masterpiece range for less than 15 years and only made limited quantities. They are powered by the trusty Caliber 3155 movement.
Rolex Day-Date Masterpiece Price Chart
| Day-Date Masterpiece Ref. | Case Material | Bezel | Avg. Market Price (Oct. 2024) |
| 18948 | Yellow Gold | Diamond | $49,000 |
| 18958 | Yellow Gold | Trapezoidal Diamond | $80,000 |
| 18946 | Platinum | Diamond | $45,000 |
| 18956 | Platinum | Trapezoidal Diamond | $88,000 (add $70,000 for diamond-set bracelet) |
How Much Does a Rolex Day-Date II Cost?
In 2008, Rolex introduced a new model, the Day-Date II with a 41mm case, which was significantly larger than the traditional 36mm diameter. It was available in all three hues of gold, as well as platinum. Diamond bezel options were only offered on the yellow and white gold versions. The Day-Date II was a short-lived collection; it was replaced in 2015 by the Day-Date 40 line. Although most collectors prefer the more svelte proportions of the Rolex Day-Date 40, the price of a comparable Day-Date II is only a few thousand less.
Day-Date II Values (2008-2015)
| Day-Date II Ref. | Case Material | Bezel | Avg. Market Price (Oct. 2024) |
| 218238 | Yellow Gold | Fluted | $35,800 |
| 218348 | Yellow Gold | Diamond | $49,000 |
| 218235 | Everose Gold | Fluted | $38,400 |
| 218239 | White Gold | Fluted | $35,300 |
| 218349 | White Gold | Diamond | $49,250 |
| 218206 | Platinum | Smooth | $53,800 |
How Much Does a Modern Rolex Day-Date 36 Cost?
Generally speaking, modern Rolex watches are classified as those models with six-digit reference numbers that were released in 2000 or later. The Day-Date 36 has had two six-digit references series so far: the now-discontinued 118xxx series and the current 128xxx series, which debuted in 2019 and has no lume whatsoever on any of its variants. The market price of the newest Rolex Day-Date generation is several thousand more than the previous one, in part because it features an updated movement as well as ceramic bracelet pins to prevent “stretch” over time.
The Day-Date 36 118xxx series was not only a long-running one (manufactured from 2000-2019) but it was a widely varied collection. For example, along with the classic President bracelet, Rolex also fitted some Day-Date models with leather straps and Oyster bracelets. This series was also the first time that Rolex made an Everose gold President watch, crafted from the brand’s proprietary rose gold alloy.
While the Day-Date 36 President 128xx references look remarkably similar to their preceding 118xxx references, the newer versions benefit from new-generation Caliber 3255 movements. These movements now offer an increased power reserve rating of 70 hours (compared to 42 hours), as well as improvements in accuracy and durability. But arguably, the 118xxx generation is the sweet spot in the Rolex Day-Date 36 price spectrum, with a nice heavy bracelet that still feels modern compared to vintage models.
Modern Rolex Day-Date 36 Values
| Day-Date 36 Ref. | Case Material | Bezel | MSRP (Oct. 2024) | Avg. Market Price (Oct. 2024) |
| 118208 | Yellow Gold | Smooth | N/A | $22,000 |
| 118238 | Yellow Gold | Fluted | N/A | $22,700 |
| 118348 | Yellow Gold | Diamond | N/A | $28,000 |
| 118138 | Yellow Gold | Fluted | N/A | $22,300 |
| 118209 | White Gold | Smooth | N/A | $19,250 |
| 118239 | White Gold | Fluted | N/A | $25,000 |
| 118389 | White Gold w/diamond lugs | Diamond | N/A | $33,800 |
| 118139 | White Gold on leather strap | Fluted | N/A | $19,800 |
| 118205 | Everose Gold | Smooth | N/A | $25,000 |
| 118235 | Everose Gold | Fluted | N/A | $31,700 |
| 118135 | Everose Gold on leather strap | Fluted | N/A | $21,400 |
| 118206 | Platinum | Smooth | N/A | $30,000 |
| 128238 | Yellow Gold | Fluted | $36,500 | $33,000 |
| 128348RBR | Yellow Gold | Diamond | $51,800 | $50,000 |
| 128398TBR | Yellow Gold | Trapezoidal Diamond | $75,500 | $70,000 |
| 128239 | White Gold | Fluted | $39,500 | $33,400 |
| 128349RBR | White Gold | Diamond | $54,800 | $57,300 |
| 128399TBR | White Gold | Trapezoidal Diamond | $78,500 | $50,750 |
| 128235 | Everose Gold | Fluted | $39,500 | $38,800 |
| 128345RBR | Everose Gold | Diamond | $54,800 | $52,000 |
| 128395TBR | Everose Gold | Trapezoidal Diamond | $78,500 | $73,500 |
| 128236 | Platinum | Fluted | $58,900 | $60,300 |
| 128396TBR | Platinum | Trapezoidal Diamond | $90,000 | $90,000 |
How Much Does a Modern Rolex Day-Date 40 Cost?
The Day-Date 40 was introduced by Rolex in 2015, featuring a slightly more compact 40mm case compared to the 41mm diameter of the Day-Date II. Aside from the 1mm difference, the Day-Date 40 is also more graceful in its proportions than the sportier Day-Date II thanks to a slimmer bezel, thinner lugs, and a more slender profile. The Day-Date 40 was the first watch with the Caliber 3255 self-winding movement, boasting a 70-hour power reserve. Diamond bezels are available on every metal of Rolex Day-Date 40, with the price of the platinum version being roughly 1.5x as much as the other metals largely due to having trapezoidal diamonds. Trapezoidal diamonds are much more difficult to shape and set perfectly than round ones, because they have to be angled as such that they form a gapless circle when put together.
Rolex Day-Date 40 Prices
| Day-Date 40 Ref. | Case Material | Bezel | Retail Price (Oct. 2024) | Avg. Market Price (Oct. 2024) |
| 228238 | Yellow Gold | Fluted | $40,100 | $38,100 |
| 228348 | Yellow Gold | Diamond | $55,700 | $50,750 |
| 228239 | White Gold | Fluted | $43,200 | $37,500 |
| 228349 | White Gold | Diamond | $61,100 | $48,800 |
| 228235 | Everose Gold | Fluted | $43,200 | $41,900 |
| 228345 | Everose Gold | Diamond | $61,100 | $56,350 |
| 228206 | Platinum | Smooth | $62,500 (Discontinued 2022) | $65,000 |
| 228236 | Platinum | Fluted | $63,300 | $72,000 |
| 228396 TBR | Platinum | Trapezoidal Diamond | $111,800 | $106,000 |
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