Rolex Day-Date 40 228235WMOPDP Review: Everose Gold, Mother-of-Pearl

The Rolex Day-Date 40 reference 228235WMOPDP is a 40 mm dress watch in 18-karat Everose gold, on the President bracelet with a fluted bezel and a white mother-of-pearl dial. The Day-Date debuted in 1956 as the first wristwatch to show the day spelled out in full alongside the date, in a window at 3 o'clock, and Rolex has built it only in gold or platinum ever since, never in steel, which is part of why the model earned the nickname "President." This guide covers the 228235WMOPDP's specifications, how it compares with other dial and metal options in the current 228235 and 228238 families, how it wears, price context and what to check before buying. Bizak & Co. sources the 228235WMOPDP to order; the Rolex 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 40 228235WMOPDP specifications

Source: Rolex, Day-Date collection page; servicing detail from Rolex, watch care and service.

Why is the Day-Date called the President?

Rolex introduced the Day-Date in 1956 alongside the three-piece President bracelet, and the two have been sold together ever since, giving the model its enduring nickname. The watch was the first to spell out the day of the week in a window at 12 o'clock in addition to the date at 3, a complication Rolex has kept exclusive to the Day-Date line. Unlike the Datejust, which Rolex also offers in steel and two-tone, the Day-Date has always been cased only in precious metal, 18-karat gold in yellow, white or Everose, or platinum, which is why it has carried a formal, occasion-watch identity since the 1950s rather than the everyday-tool-watch reputation of the Submariner or GMT-Master II.

Mother-of-pearl or chocolate dial: which 228235?

Mother-of-pearl is an organic material cut from shell rather than a lacquered or sunburst finish, so it shifts tone as the light changes and no two dials read identically; that quality, plus the brand-new condition, is what separates the WMOPDP's price from the pre-owned chocolate and champagne dial examples above, which share the same case size and a comparable precious-metal build. Buyers who want the Day-Date silhouette without the mother-of-pearl premium have options in both rose and yellow gold at a lower entry price, provided pre-owned condition suits them.

How does the Day-Date 40 wear?

At 40 mm, the Day-Date sits at a size Rolex judges large enough to read comfortably while staying within the dress-watch category rather than crossing into sports-watch territory. Because the case, fluted bezel and President bracelet are all solid 18-karat gold, the watch carries genuine weight on the wrist, more than a comparable steel Datejust, which is part of the President's traditional appeal as a watch that announces itself. The bracelet's semi-circular links and concealed clasp keep the visual line unbroken from lug to lug. The mother-of-pearl dial catches light differently depending on the angle of the wrist, a detail that reads well in both daylight and evening settings.

Who is the 228235WMOPDP for?

This reference suits a buyer who wants Rolex at its most formal: a full precious-metal build paired with a dial that does something a lacquered or sunburst finish cannot. It works for someone dressing for business settings, formal events or milestone occasions, and for a collector who wants a brand-new, full-set Day-Date in a dial configuration that stands apart from more common solid-colour options. Buyers who prioritise a lower entry price or who are comfortable with pre-owned condition may prefer the chocolate or champagne dial alternatives above. A buyer who wants the President bracelet but does not need the mother-of-pearl finish should also weigh the yellow gold option, since case metal is as much a personal preference as dial choice on a watch built to be worn for decades.

How much is a Rolex Day-Date 40 228235WMOPDP? Price context in 2026

• Retail. Rolex does not publish transaction prices, and authorised dealer allocation for current Day-Date production, mother-of-pearl dials included, generally runs through a waiting list rather than an open shelf. The Rolex Day-Date page lists current references for buyers who want a first-hand authorised-dealer quote.
• Bizak catalogue ask. On 28 September 2026, Bizak's sourced catalogue listed the 228235WMOPDP, brand new with full set, at US$53,009, sourced to order.
• What moves the price. Dial material and colour, case metal, condition, and completeness of box and papers each shift the price within the 228235 and 228238 families, as the comparison table above shows.

Those figures describe what we saw and will move. Ask for a dated quote for the exact dial, metal and set; our Rolex price guide covers how to compare quotes across the current catalogue.

Is the Day-Date 40 a good investment?

Buy a Day-Date because the President bracelet, the precious-metal build and the dial are what you want on your wrist, not because it is guaranteed to appreciate. The Day-Date has a long-standing collector base and gold and platinum Rolex references have generally held value well over time, but liquidity for any single dial and metal combination is narrower than for the brand's steel sports models, and asks vary by dial rarity and condition. A mother-of-pearl dial is a sought finish that tends to help resale interest, though it is not comparable in trading volume to a Submariner or GMT-Master II. If resale matters to you, ask for a written cash-buy assessment before you commit.

Buying a Rolex Day-Date 40: what to check

• Confirm box and papers match. The reference on the papers should match the case back and hang tag exactly; for this watch, the number is 228235WMOPDP.
• Inspect the mother-of-pearl dial. Mother-of-pearl can chip or hairline-crack if the watch has been dropped or mishandled; check the dial edges under strong light before accepting delivery.
• Check the President bracelet closely. Links and clasp on an 18-karat gold bracelet should move freely with no play, and the concealed Crownclasp should close with a clean, positive action.
• Verify the case and bezel are unpolished. A brand-new watch should show original finishing; a re-polished case changes the value even on a recently sold example.
• Price against the range. A brand-new, full-set 228235WMOPDP offered well under what authorised dealers and specialist sellers are asking for comparable examples is the clearest warning sign.
• Ask about provenance. For a brand-new watch, confirm it has come through an authorised Rolex channel rather than a grey-market source with no service history, since that affects both the warranty and how the piece is regarded at resale.

Our authentication process describes what we inspect before dispatch.

What warranty and servicing come with a new Day-Date 40?

Rolex covers current production, the 228235WMOPDP included, with an international five-year warranty from the date of purchase through its authorised network. The Day-Date's calibre 3255 is built for long service intervals, and Rolex generally recommends servicing roughly every ten years for a watch worn regularly, though usage, climate and how the watch is stored all affect that timeline. Servicing through an authorised Rolex service centre, rather than a general watchmaker, preserves both the warranty and the documentation a future buyer will want to see. Full set, meaning the original box, warranty card and any accompanying booklets, is worth confirming in writing at the point of sale rather than assumed from a listing description.

Quick answers

How much is a Rolex Day-Date 40 228235WMOPDP?

Rolex does not publish open transaction pricing for current Day-Date production. Bizak's sourced catalogue listed the 228235WMOPDP, brand new with full set, at US$53,009 on 28 September 2026, sourced to order.

Why is the Rolex Day-Date called the President?

Rolex launched the Day-Date in 1956 together with the three-piece President bracelet, and the two have been sold as a pair ever since, giving the model its lasting nickname.

What movement is in the Day-Date 40 228235WMOPDP?

Calibre 3255, Rolex's automatic movement with a Chronergy escapement, a blue Parachrom hairspring and about 70 hours of power reserve, certified as a Superlative Chronometer.

Is the Day-Date available in steel?

No. Since its 1956 introduction, Rolex has offered the Day-Date only in 18-karat gold or platinum, never in steel, unlike the Datejust.

How does the mother-of-pearl dial compare with the chocolate and champagne dial versions?

All three share the 40 mm precious-metal case and President bracelet. The mother-of-pearl dial shifts tone with the light and, as a brand-new example, carried a higher Bizak catalogue ask on 28 September 2026 than the pre-owned chocolate and champagne dial 228235 and 228238 references.

Request a Rolex Day-Date 40 228235WMOPDP sourcing quote

Tell us the dial preference, case metal and whether full documentation is 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 entries: 228235WMOPDP, Everose gold, white mother-of-pearl, 228235CDP1, Everose gold, chocolate dial; browse the Rolex Day-Date collection, the rose gold watches collection, or sell or trade your Rolex.

Related reading: Rolex price guide · Rolex Datejust 41 126331 guide · Best first Rolex guide · Sell or trade your watch.