Unboxing the Rolex Day-Date 40 in White Gold with the Olive Green Roman Dial (Ref. 228239)
The Rolex Day-Date 40 reference 228239 pairs an 18k white gold case and President bracelet with an olive green Roman numeral dial and a Fluted Bezel. It is a quiet way to build a Day-Date, and the olive dial gives it a presence that is hard to miss once the watch is on. We took this one out of the box in our office, measured it with calipers, put it on the scale, and wore it. Below is what reference 228239 looks like up close, from the way the sunray finish shifts in different light to the 210.5 grams it registered on our scale.
Table of Contents
1. Unboxing the Reference 228239
Watch the full unboxing
The Day-Date 40 reference 228239 presented in its Rolex box
Out of the box, the density is the first thing that registers. This is a solid white gold case on a solid white gold bracelet, and it carries the weight you expect from a precious metal Day-Date. The olive dial reads differently in the hand than it does on a screen, and that is the part worth spending time on.
2. The Olive Green Roman Dial
The olive green dial is the centerpiece of this watch. In softer light it looks deep and desaturated, closer to a muted olive. Once direct light hits the surface and the sunray finish opens up, the green becomes much richer and the color really starts to shine. That shift is the whole appeal of this dial, and it is why the watch photographs so differently from one room to the next.
The same olive dial in softer light and in direct light, where the sunray finish takes over
Then there are the Roman numerals. They are classic Rolex, and the bevelled design gives them a cleaner, more architectural feel. The combination of white gold, olive green, Roman numerals, and a Fluted Bezel is simple, and everything about it feels considered.
3. White Gold Case and Fluted Bezel
Case profile showing the Fluted Bezel, the polished case flank, and the winding crown
The case and bracelet are both crafted in 18k white gold, and that gives this watch a very different personality from the yellow gold and Everose versions. You get the weight and the richness of a precious metal Day-Date, and visually it stays much quieter. We think that restraint is exactly what allows the olive dial to stand out.
4. Our In-House Measurements
Rolex publishes the case at 40 mm across, roughly 12 mm thick, with a lug-to-lug of approximately 47 to 47.5 mm. We measured this example ourselves and came in at 12.22 mm thick and 47.4 mm lug to lug, so it sits very close to the published dimensions. On the scale it registered 210.5 grams. That is serious weight, and it still comes in under half a pound.
Our in-house measurements: 12.22 mm thick, 47.4 mm lug to lug, and 210.5 grams on the scale
5. The Day-Date Display and Caliber 3255
The day spelled out in full at 12 o'clock and the date beneath the Cyclops at 3 o'clock
The layout is the classic Day-Date everyone knows. You have the full day of the week written out at the 12 o'clock mark and the date beneath the Cyclops at 3 o'clock. Both are adjusted through the crown, and both change instantaneously around midnight. It is one of the most recognizable layouts Rolex has ever made, and on this dial it looks especially clean.
Inside is the Rolex caliber 3255 with approximately 70 hours of power reserve and 100 meters of water resistance. You also get stop-seconds for precise setting along with quick adjustment for the day and the date. It is a modern movement built to make this a watch you can actually wear every day, which suits the personality of this particular Day-Date.
6. The President Bracelet
The everyday wearability continues into the President bracelet. The rounded links sit naturally around the wrist, and the concealed Crownclasp keeps the bracelet looking clean from one end to the other. On this white gold version especially, the bracelet adds to that understated character. You still have one of the most recognizable silhouettes in luxury watches, and this white gold version wears it quietly.
The rounded semi-circular links of the President bracelet and the concealed clasp closing the line
7. Wearing the Day-Date 40
The reference 228239 on the wrist, showing how the 40 mm case and President bracelet sit
Once you put it on, the proportions work beautifully. You get the substance of a full white gold watch, and it still wears the way a Day-Date should. It has presence, and it stays comfortable. For us there is an ease and a certain swagger to this Day-Date that is difficult to explain until you have worn one. It is understated, it is simple, and it never feels boring.
8. Availability at Watches Off 5th
The reference 228239 on the display stand, showing the full case and bracelet
The olive dial is beautiful, the Roman numerals feel classic and architectural at the same time, the white gold keeps everything restrained, and the President bracelet makes the watch feel timeless. There is an effortless quality to this configuration that is very difficult to manufacture. That is what makes this one a modern classic, and it is why we keep looking for them.
If you have questions about this reference or you are looking for another configuration of the Day-Date 40, reach out to us at watchesoff5th.com or through our social channels. We are happy to help.