Rolex Day-Date 36
Reference 118138

There are more than a handful of vitally important aspects a fine timepiece must excel to get even a long-shot's chance at attaining timeless appeal. Size, design, aesthetics, proportions, functionality, refinement and acclaimed status are some of the most important elements to be factored into the equation. And among the select few timepieces that have stepped into the realm of ever-lasting style is the Rolex Oyster Perpetual Day-Date. Today, we bring you an up close and personal look at a more classically sized variation of this iconic collection: a Day-Date 36 that we have available in our boutique.

Wrapped in yellow gold, unquestionably the most classical and timeless of all gold variants, and fitted with a vibrant, yet noble Rolex Green dial and a brown leather strap, this particular variation of the Day-Date 36 is a study in timeless watch design.

The more compact size harkens back to the era in which the Day-Date was originally born: in 1956, and the subsequent decades to come, men's watches were quite a few millimeters small than they are today. Not that we have anything against the modern look that have developed, but at times one shall indeed take the opportunity and value the stellar proportions and elegance that a smaller piece can exhibit.

That is precisely the case here: the perfectly round, fluted bezel tops off the iconic Oyster case, both crafted from 18ct gold straight from Rolex's proprietary, in-house gold foundry. The gently curved lugs are supplemented by a discreet end-link that connects them and fills the space between the strap and the case's middle section – a thoughtful, precisely engineered detail that allows a seamless continuation from case to strap.

The lugs are rather long, but never disproportionate to the case: the so-called footprint of the watch is therefore conceived to be larger – a trick on the eyes to further elevate the elegance and presence of this otherwise compact piece.

The case is accentuated by a sunburst finished green dial that promotes nobility in appearance and real life functionality all at the same time. The central-brushed dial appears to be stretching towards the fluted bezel around its periphery, and does so the only way that is acceptable from a watch of this stature: discretely, barely noticeable to the naked eye. With the right light, the sunburst finish of the dial can completely disappear, whereas in other scenarios the remarkably fine surface treatment becomes subtly apparent.

Another nod towards eternal aesthetics is the use of Roman numerals on the very edge of the dial: accurately printed in crisp white, but small in size, thoughtfully designed to be functional and elegant, but never distracting. The hands and applied indices, as well as Rolex Crown in 18ct gold serve as a natural extension of the overall theme.

Matched to a dark brown leather strap and powered by the in-house designed and manufactured Rolex Caliber 3155, the Rolex Oyster Perpetual Day-Date 36 is full of subtle details that, when combined in such a special way, create a watch of eternal appeal that has defeated all challengers – including time itself.

We would be delighted to personally show you an extensive selection of Day-Date 36 and Day-Date 40 pieces in our Rolex Petite Geneve Petrovic boutiques in Budapest, Belgrade and Porto Montenegro.