Rolex Day date ref .228398TBR

The Rolex Day-Date 40 Ref. 228398TBR is a rare expression of factory gem-setting, combining an 18k yellow-gold case and President bracelet with a diamond-paved dial and trapeze-cut diamond bezel. The decoration is original Rolex manufacture: this watch was born with its diamond-set configuration, not embellished through aftermarket customization. Offered in pre-owned condition, it retains the familiar Day-Date layout, with the day written in full at 12 and the date beneath the Cyclops lens at 3. Its original Rolex warranty card is dated 29 November 2022.

Key Specifications

Reference	228398TBR
Model	Oyster Perpetual Day-Date 40
Case	40 mm 18k yellow-gold Oyster case with screw-down crown and solid caseback
Bezel	Original Rolex factory-set bezel with 40 trapeze-cut baguette diamonds
Dial	Original Rolex factory pavé of round brilliant-cut diamonds with 10 baguette-cut diamond hour markers
Gem-Setting	Original Rolex factory diamond-set configuration, not aftermarket
Calendar	English-language day display and date, with independent rapid setting
Movement	Rolex Calibre 3255, self-winding, with approximately 70 hours of power reserve
Functions	Hours, minutes, central seconds, and instantaneous day and date
Crystal	Sapphire crystal with Cyclops date magnifier
Bracelet	18k yellow-gold President with semi-circular three-piece links and concealed Crownclasp
Condition	Pre-owned
Accessories	Original Rolex warranty card dated 29 November 2022 and accompanying booklets

Collector's Note

Three distinct diamond treatments define this configuration. The bezel carries 40 trapeze-cut baguette diamonds, individually shaped to follow its circular outline. Their elongated, stepped facets create broad flashes of light and a precise geometric border. Across the dial, closely set round brilliant-cut diamonds form a continuous pavé surface, producing a finer, more scintillating effect. Ten larger baguette-cut diamonds mark the hours, standing out through their linear proportions and the yellow-gold frames surrounding them. The contrast is deliberate: the pavé supplies texture, while the baguette markers and trapeze-cut bezel establish structure and legibility.

The importance of this example lies in the combination of these elements as an original Rolex factory execution. The TBR bezel is distinct from the round brilliant-set bezels seen on other jeweled Day-Date references, and its pairing with a fully paved dial makes this a particularly uncommon configuration. Beneath the gem-setting, Calibre 3255 provides automatic winding, approximately 70 hours of power reserve, and instantaneous calendar changes. The solid-gold President bracelet completes the design with rounded links that contrast with the angular diamond facets. Together, these details place the watch firmly within the high-jewelry tradition of the Day-Date while preserving its practical calendar functions.

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