Rolex
Rolex Day-Date 18038
The Rolex Day-Date (reference 18038) is a 36 mm yellow gold watch. It runs on the automatic caliber 3055. It was introduced in 1978.
Specifications
Case
- Reference
- 18038
- Collection
- Day-Date
- Case size
- 36 mm
- Case material
- Yellow gold
- Case shape
- Round
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Bracelet / strap
- Yellow gold
Dial and bezel
- Bezel
- Fluted
Movement
- Movement
- Automatic
- Caliber
- 3055
Production
- Production
- 1978 – today (discontinued)
Dial versions
This reference was made with these dials and finishes.
18038 Champagne
Stick indexes
18038 Coral
Stella enamel/lacquer dial
18038 Green
Stella enamel/lacquer dial
18038 Oxblood
Stella enamel/lacquer dial
18038 Turquoise
Stella enamel/lacquer dial
18038 Stella Stella lacquer
Stella lacquer; diamond-set hour markers · Diamond, dial (hour markers) · “Stella”
18038 Stella Stella lacquer
Stella lacquer; diamond-set indices; gold printing · Diamond, dial (indices) · “Stella”
How it compares within the Day-Date family
Side by side with other references in the same collection, from the catalog.
| Reference | Size | Material | Dial | Caliber | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18038 (This watch) | 36 mm | Yellow gold | — | 3055 | 1978– |
| 128235 | 36 mm | 18k Everose gold | Chocolate / Sundust / various | 3255 | 2019– |
| 128238 | 36 mm | 18k yellow gold | Champagne / Green / Silver / various | 3255 | 2019– |
| 128239 | 36 mm | 18k white gold | — | 3255 | 2019– |
| 128396TBR | 36 mm | Platinum | — | 3255 | — |
| 228206 | 40 mm | 950 platinum | Ice blue | 3255 | 2015– |
| 228235 | 40 mm | 18k Everose gold | — | 3255 | 2015– |
| 228238 | 40 mm | 18k yellow gold | — | 3255 | 2015– |
| 228239 | 40 mm | 18k white gold | — | 3255 | 2015– |
About the Day-Date family
The Day-Date was introduced in 1956 as the first wristwatch to show the day of the week spelled out in full, in a window at 12 o'clock, alongside the date. It has only ever been made in precious metal, 18k gold or platinum, and is usually worn on the President bracelet created for it.
Generations are told apart by reference and movement: the quickset references of the late 1970s and 1980s, the 18238 and 118238 with caliber 3155, then the Day-Date 40 (for example ref. 228238) from 2015 and the Day-Date 36 (for example ref. 128238) from 2019, both with caliber 3255. Dials range from plain colours to stone, meteorite and diamond-set versions, and the day disc can be in many languages. Dealers check that dial, bezel and bracelet are original to the watch.
Quick answers
- What size is the Rolex Day-Date 18038?
- The Rolex Day-Date 18038 has a 36 mm case.
- What movement does the Rolex Day-Date 18038 use?
- It uses the automatic caliber 3055.
- Is the Rolex Day-Date 18038 still in production?
- Discontinued.
- When did the Rolex Day-Date 18038 come out?
- It was introduced in 1978.
- What is the Rolex Day-Date 18038 made of?
- The case is yellow gold. Bracelet or strap: Yellow gold.
- Which dials was the Rolex Day-Date 18038 made with?
- The catalog lists 7 dials: Champagne, Coral, Green, Oxblood, Turquoise, Light Blue, Red.
Catalog facts checked October 2026.