Rolex Day-Date II

    Every reference with a known width takes the same strap size. Your reference is engraved on the case back or between the lugs at 6 o'clock.

    21 mm

    From our database, not yet verified

    41 mm case

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    Watch line4 references
    21 mm
    Illustration drawn to scale: 41 mm case, 21 mm lugs

    Lug widths across the line

    The Rolex Day-Date II takes a 21 mm strap: all 4 references with a known width use 21 mm.

    Filter references by lug width

    The story · Since 1956

    The story of the Rolex Day-Date II

    For more than half a century the Day-Date came in a single 36 mm size. In 2008 Rolex swelled its flagship to 41 mm with a more prominent bezel and lugs, then took it back to 40 mm only seven years later, which makes the Day-Date II the largest Day-Date Rolex has introduced.
    1. 1956 to 2007 Fifty years at 36 mm From its launch the Day-Date was offered only with a 36 mm case, in yellow, pink or white gold, and soon on the President bracelet.
    2. 2008 A bigger President at Basel The Day-Date II arrived in 2008 with a 41 mm Oyster case in yellow, white or Everose gold or platinum.
    3. 2008 to 2015 Wide lugs, flat caseback, big presence The 41 mm case was virtually identical to the Datejust II's and wore large because of its wide lugs and bracelet.
    4. 2015 Replaced by the Day-Date 40 At Baselworld 2015 Rolex confirmed that the new Day-Date 40 replaced the Day-Date II.

    41 mm

    case diameter, the largest Day-Date ever introduced

    Read the full storyHide the story
    41 mmcase diameter, the largest Day-Date ever introduced
    48 hourspower reserve of calibre 3156, raised to 70 hours by the Day-Date 40's calibre 3255
    21,210 eurosstarting price in France at launch, 2008
    7 yearsproduction run, 2008 to 2015

    Chapters

    1. 1956 to 2007

      Fifty years at 36 mm

      From its launch the Day-Date was offered only with a 36 mm case, in yellow, pink or white gold, and soon on the President bracelet. By the 2000s buyers were asking for bigger watches, and aBlogtoWatch writes that Rolex gave in to that pressure with larger versions of its classics.

    2. 2008

      A bigger President at Basel

      The Day-Date II arrived in 2008 with a 41 mm Oyster case in yellow, white or Everose gold or platinum. It brought calibre 3156 with a Parachrom hairspring and Paraflex shock absorbers, and a Super-President bracelet with a hidden clasp. In France it started at 21,210 euros.

    3. 2008 to 2015

      Wide lugs, flat caseback, big presence

      The 41 mm case was virtually identical to the Datejust II's and wore large because of its wide lugs and bracelet. Monochrome says the bezel and lugs made it look more than 1 mm bigger than its successor, and calls it a disappointing seller.

    4. 2015

      Replaced by the Day-Date 40

      At Baselworld 2015 Rolex confirmed that the new Day-Date 40 replaced the Day-Date II. The successor slimmed the bezel and lugs, used calibre 3255 with a 70-hour power reserve, and put ceramic inserts in every President bracelet.

    Moments

    2015. On the first press day of Baselworld 2015 Rolex showed the Day-Date 40 and confirmed that it replaced the Day-Date II after seven years.

    2008. The Day-Date II made its debut in 2008 as the first Day-Date larger than 36 mm, alongside calibre 3156.

    Generations and strap changes

    1. 2015
      Successor: Day-Date 40, ref. 228xxx

      The 40 mm successor launched at Baselworld 2015 in platinum (228206), Everose (228235), yellow gold (228238) and white gold (228239), with calibre 3255.

      Case reduced from 41 to 40 mm with narrower lugs, so the Day-Date II case does not carry over.

    2. 2008
      Ref. 218238

      yellow gold case with a fluted bezel, calibre 3156, produced 2008 to 2015.

      41 mm case, 21 mm lug width per WatchBase.

    3. 2008
      Ref. 218239

      white gold version with calibre 3156.

      41 mm case, 21 mm lug width per WatchBase.

    4. 2008
      Ref. 218235

      18 ct Everose gold version, calibre 3156.

      41 mm case, 21 mm lug width per WatchBase.

    About Rolex

    Founded in 1905 in London, United Kingdom.

    Ambassadors include Roger Federer, Tiger Woods, Mark Webber The Rolex story

    4 Rolex Day-Date II references

    Rolex Day-Date II references in our database. Each card says where its width comes from: listed by the maker (linked to the maker's page in the details), two independent sources agree, or listed in our database and not yet verified by us.

    • 218235‑0008

      Day-Date II Everose Pink Diamonds

      21 mm

      Database

      41 mmPink dialRose Gold

      Attachment
      classic lugs
      Status
      Listed in our database, not yet verified

    • 218206‑0043

      Day-Date II Platinum Ice Blue Roman

      21 mm

      Database

      41 mmBlue dialPlatinum

      Attachment
      classic lugs
      Status
      Listed in our database, not yet verified

    • 218239‑0041

      Day-Date II White Gold White Roman

      21 mm

      Database

      41 mmWhite dialWhite Gold

      Attachment
      classic lugs
      Status
      Listed in our database, not yet verified

    • 218238‑0038

      Day-Date II Yellow Gold Fluted Champagne Roman

      21 mm

      Database

      41 mmChampagne dialYellow Gold

      Attachment
      classic lugs
      Status
      Listed in our database, not yet verified

    FAQ

    What lug width does the Rolex Day-Date II use?

    The Rolex Day-Date II takes a 21 mm strap: all 4 references with a known width use 21 mm. These widths come from our database and are not yet verified.

    What lug width does the Rolex Day-Date II have?

    21 mm. WatchBase lists 21.00 mm for the yellow gold 218238 and platinum 218206 references.

    Is the Day-Date II the same size as the Day-Date 40?

    No. The Day-Date II is 41 mm with wider lugs; the Day-Date 40 that replaced it in 2015 is 40 mm with a slimmer bezel and narrower lugs, so cases and bracelets are not the same.

    What bracelet came on the Day-Date II?

    Rolex fitted a Super-President bracelet with its hidden clasp. On platinum models the bracelet had ceramic inserts between the links to limit stretch.

    Other Rolex collections

    All Rolex collections

    Help

    What is lug width?

    The gap between the two lugs that hold the strap, in millimetres. A new strap must match it exactly: 20 mm lugs take a 20 mm strap.

    Measure it in 30 seconds

    1. Take the strap off, or look at the back of it: many straps print their width.
    2. Measure the inside gap between the lugs with a caliper or a millimetre ruler.
    3. Round to the nearest whole millimetre. Most watches use 18, 20 or 22 mm.

    Strap, quick release or system?

    Most watches use spring bars, so any strap of the right width fits. Many smartwatches use their own band system instead, such as Apple Watch bands or Garmin QuickFit.