Rolex Day-Date 36 118238CDRO: Yellow Gold Champagne Dial Guide

The Rolex Day-Date 36 118238CDRO is an 18 ct yellow gold Day-Date with a 36 mm Oyster case, a fluted bezel, a President bracelet and a champagne dial with diamond hour markers and Roman numerals, powered by the calibre 3155 of the 118 series. Rolex replaced the 118 series with the 128 series in 2019, so this is the previous-generation Day-Date 36. This guide covers the specifications, how the dial is put together, how the 118238 compares with its successor and with sibling 118 series references, how it wears, what Bizak's catalogue listed on September 28, 2026 and what to check before buying a pre-owned gold Rolex. Bizak & Co. sources the 118238CDRO to order; the Day-Date collection lists the configurations we can seek.

Last reviewed on September 28, 2026 by Filip Biczak. Prices are dated observations, not quotes.

Rolex Day-Date 36 118238CDRO specifications

Sources: the Rolex Day-Date collection page for the current generation and Rolex watch care and service for servicing intervals and warranty terms. Chronometer certification for Swiss watches is described by the COSC.

What is the Rolex Day-Date 36 118238CDRO?

The Day-Date arrived in 1956 as the first wristwatch to spell out the day of the week in full on the dial, and Rolex has only ever made it in precious metals. The yellow gold, fluted-bezel version is the one most people picture when they hear the name: the President. The 118238 is that watch in its 118 series form, before the 2019 update. The letters after the number are Bizak's catalogue shorthand for the dial; the listing describes it as champagne with diamond hour markers and Roman numerals, which is a restrained way to add diamonds to a yellow gold watch because the Roman numerals keep the dial reading as traditional.

What does the champagne diamond dial look like?

Champagne is a soft, pale gold that sits between silver and yellow. Against a yellow gold case it reads as one warm tone rather than a contrast, and the diamond markers add sparkle at the hours without turning the dial into a jewellery piece. The day sits at 12 o'clock and the date at 3 under the Cyclops, which is the twin display that defines every Day-Date. On a pre-owned watch the dial deserves closer attention than anything else, because gem-set dials are the ones most often replaced or refinished.

• Diamonds. Each stone should be set flush and straight; a missing or loose stone, or uneven setting, means the dial has been disturbed.
• Roman numerals. Applied or printed numerals should be sharp, evenly spaced and the same colour as the rest of the dial furniture.
• Lume and hands. Check that hands and markers match in age and colour; a bright new hand on a worn dial is a service replacement.

118238 vs 128238: which yellow gold Day-Date 36?

The comparison is close but not exact: the 128 series listings are champagne-dial references in the newer generation, and the gap reflects the age and condition of the 118 series watches as well as the movement. The 128238 is the one to buy if you want the longer power reserve and the current build; the 118238 is the value route to the same 36 mm President in yellow gold.

How does the 118238CDRO compare with other 118 series yellow gold references?

All four are pre-owned 118 series watches and each listing states its own condition, bracelet and set contents, so treat the spread as a rough guide rather than a ranking. Product pages: 118238CDP1, 118238STSP and 118238CSPP1. Ask why one differs from another; year, dial detail and bracelet condition usually explain it.

How does the Day-Date 36 wear?

At 36 mm the Day-Date is the classic dress-watch size, and in yellow gold it wears larger and heavier than its dimensions suggest because the bracelet is solid gold. It slides under a shirt cuff and the concealed clasp keeps the underside smooth. The fluted bezel catches light and adds visual width. Yellow gold is softer than steel, so a pre-owned example will show fine hairlines, and the bracelet is the part that ages most, with links that stretch and a clasp that loosens.

How much is a Rolex Day-Date 36 118238CDRO? Catalogue price in 2026

• Rolex list price. The 118 series is no longer on Rolex's current price list. The current 128 series is on the Rolex website, and Rolex adjusts list prices from time to time, so check the page rather than relying on an old figure.
• Bizak catalogue ask. On September 28, 2026 Bizak's sourced catalogue listed the 118238CDRO, pre-owned and full set, at US$32,504, sourced to order.
• What moves the price. Gold prices, bracelet stretch, case polishing, dial originality, the year and whether the full set is present.

That figure describes one listing on one day and will move. Ask for a dated quote for the exact watch and set; our Rolex price guide explains how to compare quotes.

Is a pre-owned 118238CDRO worth buying?

It is a watch to wear rather than to trade. Pre-owned gold Day-Dates are priced for material, dial and condition, and a well-kept full-set example is a sound purchase because the paperwork answers questions a later buyer would ask. The risk lies in condition: a heavily polished case or a stretched bracelet is expensive to correct. Buy it because you want the yellow gold President in its classic form; if resale matters, ask for a written cash-buy assessment before you commit. Our first Rolex guide sets out where a gold Day-Date sits against the steel range.

Buying a used 118238CDRO: what to check

• Bracelet stretch. Hold the watch by the clasp and let the bracelet hang. A sagging curve means stretched links, which are costly to restore in gold.
• Dial originality. Confirm the diamonds are factory set and the dial shows no repainting or reluming. Papers help, but a trained eye still needs to look.
• Case polishing. Look at the lugs and the flanks under good light. Soft, rounded edges and weakened fluting on the bezel mean repeated buffing.
• Serial and papers. The serial on the papers should match the case, and the box, inner box and any tags should belong to this watch and this reference.
• Movement and service. The calibre 3155 should change day and date cleanly at midnight and keep good time. Ask for the last service record; Rolex suggests servicing roughly every ten years depending on use.
• Clasp. Open and close the concealed clasp several times; it should close firmly and evenly.
• Price against the band. A full-set gold Day-Date offered well below comparable listings is the single most reliable warning sign.

Our authentication process describes what we inspect before dispatch.

Quick answers

How much is a Rolex Day-Date 36 118238CDRO?

Bizak's sourced catalogue listed a pre-owned, full-set example at US$32,504 on September 28, 2026, sourced to order. That is a dated asking price, not a quote, and it will move with gold prices and condition.

What is the difference between the 118238 and the 128238?

The 118238 is the earlier Day-Date 36 with the calibre 3155 and about 48 hours of reserve. The 128238, introduced in 2019, has the calibre 3255 with 70 hours and Rolex's current-generation build.

What movement is in the Day-Date 36 118238?

The calibre 3155, a self-winding chronometer-certified movement with quickset day and date and a power reserve of about 48 hours.

Does a pre-owned Day-Date 36 need a service?

Rolex suggests servicing roughly every ten years depending on use. Ask for the last service record, and if there is none, budget for a service at purchase.

Is a yellow gold Day-Date a good first gold Rolex?

It is the classic version of the model. The champagne dial and fluted bezel are traditional, and the 36 mm size is the original Day-Date proportion, so it works as a long-term keeper rather than a fashion piece.

Request a Day-Date 36 118238CDRO sourcing quote

Tell us the dial, the metal, the condition and whether box and papers are required, plus your budget and timing, through our sourcing enquiry form. We confirm the specific watch, photographs, papers and final price before you commit. Catalogue entry: Day-Date 36 118238CDRO; browse the Day-Date collection, the yellow gold watches, or sell or trade your Rolex.

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