The Rolex Day‑Date 36 118238 holds a position within Rolex's catalogue that no other reference occupies: introduced in 1956 as the first wristwatch to display both the day of the week spelled out in full and the date, it has been produced exclusively in precious metals since its inception — yellow gold, white gold, rose gold, or platinum — and has never appeared in stainless steel. The 118238 is the 36mm yellow gold Day-Date in its most classically composed configuration, and the black dial with mixed diamond and baguette hour markers represents one of the reference's most enduringly collectible dial variants. The contrast between deep black and yellow gold is among the most visually authoritative pairings in the Day-Date's dial history, and the combination of brilliant-cut and baguette-cut diamonds at the three, six, nine, and twelve positions elevates the execution beyond the standard diamond-set configuration.

The 36mm yellow gold Oyster case carries a fluted yellow gold bezel, screw-down crown, and yellow gold Cyclops lens over the date aperture at three o'clock. The black dial presents eight brilliant-cut diamond hour markers and two baguette-cut diamond markers at six and twelve o'clock, with a spelled-out day aperture at twelve and a date window at three. Yellow gold pointed sword hands complete the dial. The President bracelet in yellow gold with concealed Crownclasp completes the reference. Caliber 3155 powers the movement.

*This timepiece has an Open Date on the card, but the serial number dates the watch to 2006-2007.