Rolex Day-Date ref 118138 and 118139

The watch that doesn’t need further introduction, the Rolex Day-Date. Introduced in 1956 as the first chronometer wristwatch that had a day and date complication. A classic timepiece from the start, that – in the meanwhile – has and had a lot of prominent owners. This year during the Baselworld 2013 exhibition, Rolex introduced a few new variations to their flagship collection, yellow and white gold Day-Date models on a leather strap with the following dial colors: cognac,  cherry, chocolate, green and blue.

Day-Date , a Ladies or Men’s Watch?

Originally, the Day-Date (reference 1803, 11838, 118238 etc) were meant to be men’s watches. Since a few years however, Rolex upgraded a number of their watches to a more up-to-date size. Their Datejust and Day-Date collection for example, have been expanded with Datejust II and Day-Date II models which have a 41mm case instead of the 36mm size that they have been using for decades.

Although purists seem to have a slight preference for the case design of the 36mm models, the 41mm models are well received by the masses. Anyhows, it seems that a lot of ladies also found their way to the 36mm Day-Date (and Datejust) models. Does this make this watch a ladies watch? We think not. Although we don’t like anything unisex, women wearing a 36mm Day-Date do have good taste. They are just wearing men’s watches.

Friend of the show Sylvie van der Vaart / Meis wearing a gold Rolex Day-Date on an Oyster bracelet.

Inner Works

The inner works of the new Rolex Day-Date 118138 and 118139 did not change. The Rolex caliber 3155 ensures great and reliable performance of the watch and is – of course – chronometer certified. The movement has been updated in recent time with the Rolex parachrom hairspring. The case is water resistant up to 10ATM/100 meters due to the Oyster case and the Twinlock screw-down crown. No surprises here, just solid stuff.

New Dial Colors and Leather Straps

The reason we believe that Rolex also targeted at their female audience here, are the colors (and names they have them). Also, Rolex decided to put these 118138 and 118139 references on beautiful leather alligator straps.

As written above, the new dial colors are cherry, cognac, chocolate, green and blue. There is also one with a rhodium dial, pictured above. The yellow gold Day-Date versions have reference number 118138 and the white gold versions are the 118139 models. All come on a matching alligator strap with a folding clasp in 18 carat gold.

Rolex Day-Date Cherry

Rolex Day-Date Blue

Rolex Day-Date Chocolate

Rolex Day-Date Cognac

Rolex Day-Date Green

Rolex Day-Date Rhodium

Day-Date Availability and Price

The new Rolex Day-Date 2013 collection will be available this year (before Autumn) and prices start from  17.950,- Euro for the yellow gold version and 19.150 Euro for the white gold version.

Although we love the Rolex Day-Date on a President style bracelet, they look awesome on a leather strap as well. The watch becomes a bit more classy when worn on a leather strap. The 36mm Day-Date on a gold President bracelet is still available though.

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