New Rolex Day-Date 36 model go old-school and very funky
Borna BošnjakIf the bubbly Oyster Perpetual wasn’t quite whimsical enough for you, or was not the right type of colourful – Rolex has got you covered. Introduced in two new variants, it revives the funky stone dials of the 1970s and fully enters the realm of quirky with high-end champlevé enamel dials – emojis and inspirational phrases included.
Rolex Day-Date 36 with puzzle champlevé enamel dials
Long a paragon of power, present on the wrists of world leaders and pop-culture stars, the Rolex Day-Date, especially in the yellow gold 36mm variant, is a piece truly deserving of the icon moniker. A Day-Date is certainly worthy of a champlevé dial, owing to the meticulous nature of executing one, though the way Rolex has gone about it certainly surprised me, among many others. Depicting a partly put-together jigsaw puzzle, the colourful pieces are separated by thin precious metal wire matched to the case, each “representing one of the key moments in life”, according to Rolex. Instead of the day and date indication, we’ve got seven inspirational quotes (Happy, Eternity, Gratitude, Peace, Faith, Love, Hope) and 31 exclusive emojis, so its proposition as a daily wearer is tarnished somewhat. Finalising the colour splash on the dial, the hour markers are a smattering of coloured baguette-cut sapphires.
Available in three different metals – yellow, white and Everose gold, the Day-Date 36 puzzles remain unchanged from the classic 36mm Day-Date case – all three also paired with a President bracelet finished in a concealed Crownclasp.
First fitted to the Day-Date model in 2019, the 2015 3255 calibre sports a Chronergy escapement, blue Parachrom hairspring with Rolex overcoil and Paraflex shock absorbers, offering up to 70 hours of power reserve.
Rolex Day-Date 36 with decorative stone dials
Not to be outdone by the emoji-and-sapphire-equipped Day-Dates, the 1970s-inspired Day-Dates pair decorative stone dials with diamond-studded markers and bezels. The sunrise-like carnelian dial, which we saw a glimpse of in Rolex’s teaser, is cased in 18k yellow gold with a matching 18k yellow gold President bracelet.
The green aventurine dial, my personal favourite of the bunch, combines an Everose gold case and bracelet with a green backdrop of finely crystallised stone. The stunning star-studded dial complements the 52 brilliant-cut diamonds in the bezel, making for a very blingy finish.
Finally, we have the veiny turquoise blue dial in a white gold case. The stone is one that Rolex has used often throughout the years, the 128348RBR reference in yellow gold being the most recent. All three feature the 3255 calibre, just like the puzzle champlevé enamel models.
Rolex Day-Date 36 2023 pricing and availability:
The new Rolex Day-Date 36 models’ availability is still to be confirmed, as is the pricing.
| Brand | Rolex |
| Model | Day-Date 36 |
| Reference Number | 128238 (18k yellow gold puzzle) 128239 (18k white gold puzzle) 128235 (18k Everose gold puzzle)128345 RBR (green aventurine) 128348 RBR (carnelian) 128349 RBR (turquoise) |
| Case Dimensions | 36mm (D) x 12mm (T) |
| Case Material | 18k yellow gold, white gold or Everose gold |
| Water Resistance | 100 metres |
| Dial | Champlevé enamel with puzzle motif Decorative stone – green aventurine, carnelian or turquoise |
| Crystal(s) | Sapphire crystal |
| Strap | President bracelet matched to case metal with Crownclasp |
| Lug Width | 20mm |
| Movement | Calibre 3255 |
| Power Reserve | 70 hours |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, seconds, inspirational quote, emoji Hours, minutes, seconds, day, date |
| Availability | TBC |
| Price | TBC |