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Rolex Day-Date 40 review: worth it or skip?

Consider8.4/10 research score

Quick answer

Consider it, if you want the President. Why: gold Day-Date. The catch: very pricey.

By Opulique Editorial Team Updated 1 min read

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Rolex Day-Date 40

Our verdict on the Rolex Day-Date 40

Buy it if
you want the President.
Skip it if
you want value.
Best for
President
Key feature
Gold Day-Date
Typical price
$42,000–$55,000
Check Price on Amazon Paid link

Key specifications

Case40 mm gold
MovementRolex 3255
Water resistance100 m
Power reserve70 hours

Who should buy it, and who should skip it

A good fit if you

  • you want the President
  • value iconic
  • can spend around $42,000–$55,000

Skip it if you

  • you want value
  • mind this: very pricey

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Iconic

Cons

  • Very pricey

The verdict in one breath

The Rolex Day-Date 40 is a beautiful piece for the right buyer, not an automatic pick. Its strength: gold Day-Date. Read the skip-if line before you spend.

Reasons to buy

  • Iconic

Reasons to skip

  • Very pricey

The details that matter

  • Case: 40 mm gold
  • Movement: Rolex 3255
  • Water resistance: 100 m
  • Power reserve: 70 hours

Worth knowing

The President.

Buy it or skip it?

Consider it if you want the President. Skip it if you want value; the A. Lange & Söhne Lange 1 is the better buy then. Everything else is in our list of the best dress watches.

Alternatives worth considering

A. Lange & Söhne Lange 1

A. Lange & Söhne · Dress watches

A. Lange & Söhne Lange 1

Buy it if you want the German icon.

Verdict
Buy
Best for
German icon
Typical price
$42,000–$48,000

Pros

  • Exceptional finishing

Cons

  • Pricey
Check Price on Amazon Paid linkRead our review
Breguet Classique 7137

Breguet · Dress watches

Breguet Classique 7137

Buy it if you want Breguet.

Verdict
Buy
Best for
Breguet moonphase
Typical price
$40,000–$46,000

Pros

  • Exceptional

Cons

  • Pricey
Check Price on Amazon Paid linkRead our review

Frequently asked questions

Should I buy the Rolex Day-Date 40?

Consider it, if you want the President. Why: gold Day-Date. The catch: very pricey.

When should I skip it?

Skip it if you want value. The A. Lange & Söhne Lange 1 is the better buy then.

What does the Rolex Day-Date 40 cost?

Usually $42,000–$55,000 in the US. Luxury houses raise prices often, so check the current price before you buy.

Opulique Editorial Team

Part of the Opulique research team. We compare specifications, documentation and real-world trade-offs so you can decide faster.

How we research products Editorial policy

Rolex Day-Date 40: the full buy-or-skip review

Is the Rolex Day-Date 40 worth the money? Short answer: consider it, if you want the President. This review explains what this Rolex piece gets right, where it falls short, what it usually costs and which dress watch to buy instead if it is not right for you.

What the Rolex Day-Date 40 does well

The headline: gold Day-Date. The details: Case: 40 mm gold; Movement: Rolex 3255; Water resistance: 100 m; Power reserve: 70 hours. In our list it is the pick for: president. It usually sells for $42,000–$55,000 in the US.

The President.

The trade-offs

Good: iconic. Not so good: very pricey. Read the skip-if line before you spend: skip it if you want value.

What to buy instead

Instead, consider the A. Lange & Söhne Lange 1 ($42,000–$48,000): off-center dial with outsize date. Better if you want the German icon.

Instead, consider the Breguet Classique 7137 ($40,000–$46,000): 7137. Better if you want Breguet.

Instead, consider the Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Moon Phase ($40,000–$46,000): patrimony moonphase. Better if you want elegant complication.

Before you buy

Thickness: a true dress watch is under about 10 mm and slips under a shirt cuff. Size: 36 to 40 mm suits most wrists and looks classic; larger dress watches look oversized. Strap: a quality leather strap and deployant buckle complete the look; budget for spares.

Buyer tip

Grand Seiko, Longines and Nomos give the best dress-watch quality for the money; the great Swiss houses are about finishing and heritage.

Buying in Europe: authorized-dealer prices for Swiss watches are set per country and include VAT; a watch bought in Switzerland or the EU carries the same international warranty as one bought in the US. Grey-market and pre-owned prices are often quoted in euros or Swiss francs.

Luxury prices move in a different rhythm from everyday shopping. The great houses (Chanel, Hermès, Louis Vuitton, Dior, Rolex) raise prices once or twice a year, often in January and in spring, and almost never discount their icons. Seasonal pieces, colors and many shoes, coats and knitwear drop 30–50% in the end-of-season sales in January and from late June. Watches from brands such as Omega, TAG Heuer, Longines and Breitling, and most fragrance, see the best prices around Prime Day and Black Friday. Judge any deal against the usual price we show.

Buy from the fashion house, an authorized retailer or a reseller that authenticates and guarantees every piece, and keep the receipt, the dust bag, the box and any warranty card: they matter for repairs and for resale. Swiss watches carry a 2- to 5-year international warranty when bought from an authorized dealer, and buyers in the EU and UK also have a legal guarantee of at least two years on new goods.