Rolex Vault › All references › Day-Date
Day-Date · 2015 to present
“President”
Rank #43 of 113 rated pieces in the Rolex Vault
Market range: the middle half of 27 recorded eBay sales in the last 12 months.
Median recorded eBay sale price for each quarter with 3 or more sales. Dashed line marks the 2026 retail price.
The President: solid gold, head-of-state pedigree, and a secondary price roughly 20 to 30 percent under the 2026 retail of $48,000.
Rolex keeps raising gold retail prices, which slowly lifts the pre-owned floor under it. Stone dials buck the trend and appreciate.
The Day-Date, launched in 1956, became known as 'the President's watch' largely through Lyndon Johnson, who wore one often in office. (Eisenhower's Rolex was a gold Datejust given in 1951.) It only comes in precious metal, no steel, ever, which is the entire point.
The modern 40 with the 3255 movement is mechanically the best President ever built. Champagne is the canon dial; the green dial became a pop-culture favorite, and onyx and stone dials are quietly the collector play.
Our verdict: Prestige, not profit. Buy pre-owned at the discount, or chase an onyx dial for the collector angle.
| Sizes | 40mm |
|---|---|
| Case & bracelet | 18k yellow gold |
| Factory bracelet | President |
| Factory bezels | Fluted yellow gold; Smooth |
| Notable dials | Champagne; Green; Onyx and stone dials (premium) |
| Caliber | 3255 |
| Production | 2015 to present |
| Sold | Example | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 28, 2026 | Pre-owned · eBay sale ↗︎ | $61,900 |
| Sep 30, 2026 | Pre-owned · eBay sale ↗︎ | $62,400 |
| Sep 9, 2026 | Pre-owned · eBay sale ↗︎ | $40,400 |
| Aug 30, 2026 | Pre-owned · eBay sale ↗︎ | $61,000 |
| Aug 29, 2026 | Pre-owned · eBay sale ↗︎ | $42,500 |
| Aug 22, 2026 | Pre-owned · eBay sale ↗︎ | $38,100 |
Recorded eBay completed sales, logged at our last data refresh.
Recorded eBay sales from the last 12 months put the typical Rolex Day-Date 40 228238 at $52,000, with the middle half selling between $42,500 and $60,900 (27 sales). Condition, box and papers move the price within that range.
Yes. The typical sale of $52,000 is about 3% above the $50,400 retail price.
The Crown Index grades it B+ (79/100) from real resale data, and today's call is hold. Solid resale, with limited room to grow from today's price. Past prices are not a forecast.