Rolex Day-Date 118206 Platinum Review

christianch · 2022-03-21T22:14:30Z

Explore christianch's 7-year review of the Rolex Day-Date 118206 in platinum. Discover its versatility, dial customization, and enduring appeal for collectors.

christianch

WPS member · Rolex forum

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Christianch offers a compelling seven-year retrospective on his Rolex Day-Date 118206 in platinum, a reference he considers a timeless classic. His long-term ownership review provides invaluable insights into the watch's enduring appeal, versatility, and the personal journey of customizing a luxury timepiece. This article explores why the 36mm Day-Date remains a cornerstone for collectors, even amidst evolving market trends.

It has been 7 years since I welcomed this amazing Rolex Day-Date 118206. This was a big purchase for me but the 💸 is temporary and the 💕 stays a long time.

I initally bought it with the diamonds dial but, to change it and tone it down, in 2019 I changed the dial to this more classic one with roman numerals.

This watch is to be absolutely perfect as I can't find any downside. You can wear it anytime, anywhere. With 100 Mt water resistance it spent time at the pool, on the beach.

Is great for the office but in any casual/sport environment too. The 36mm size is perfectly on my smaller wrist (but I have to say that the day-date II at 41mm was pretty wearable too).

The heft is there but for a reason 😏

This reference no longer exists so I am glad that I did get it. If I could turn back time to 2015 -- where pretty much all Patek, FPJ etc. were available in stores -- I would still go for the day-date because is a classic. Elegant, discreet and very robust.

Within the years I had the luck to acquire other watches but if I had to make a one watch collection this would be it. May is true that there are no words for what Rolex 👑 does!😁

About the Rolex Day-Date 36 Ref. 118206

Rolex Day-Date 36 Reference 118206

The reference 118206 represents Rolex's platinum execution of the Day-Date 36, distinguished by its glacier blue diamond dial within the Platinum Glacier Blue Diamond series. This reference occupied the premium tier of the Day-Date lineup during its production period from 2000 to 2012.

The 36mm case is constructed entirely in platinum, featuring a smooth platinum bezel and sapphire crystal. Water resistance is rated to 100 meters. The watch houses the automatic caliber 3155 movement with a 48-hour power reserve. The glacier blue dial incorporates diamond hour markers, paired with a platinum President bracelet.

This reference appeals to collectors seeking platinum Day-Date variants with distinctive dial treatments. The glacier blue diamond dial configuration and all-platinum construction position the 118206 among the more premium offerings within the Day-Date 36 range during its twelve-year production run.

Specifications

Caliber: 3155

Case: Platinum

Diameter: 36 mm

Dial: Glacier Blue with Diamonds

Water Resist.: 100m

Crystal: Sapphire

Key Points from the Discussion

The Rolex Day-Date, particularly in platinum, offers unparalleled versatility, suitable for any occasion from office wear to casual or sport environments, including swimming, due to its 100m water resistance.
The 36mm Day-Date is ideal for smaller wrists, offering a perfect fit, though the 41mm Day-Date II is also noted as wearable. The platinum model's significant heft is a desirable characteristic, contributing to its luxurious feel.
Dial customization is a significant aspect of Day-Date ownership; swapping a diamond dial for a classic Roman numeral dial can transform the watch's aesthetic from flashy to more toned-down and suitable for everyday wear.
The ice blue dial in platinum Day-Dates has varied in shade over time, with older diamond dials sometimes featuring a less vibrant, more silver-toned blue compared to newer, more distinctly blue versions.
Another collector echoes the sentiment that the platinum Day-Date 40 with an ice blue baguette dial, also with an interchangeable Roman dial, is a perfect, timeless, and versatile watch that would be among the last to leave their collection.
The preference for diamond dials often leans towards those with large rectangular-cut diamonds at 6 and 9 o'clock, over those with all round brilliant diamonds, for a more distinctive aesthetic.

The Discussion

patrick_y

Mar 21, 2022

Thanks for sharing! I really like how Rolex did a great job on the diamond dial with the emerald cut 6 and 9 o'clock markers.

myles721

Mar 21, 2022

Based on your post and that you also own (still?) an Omega how do you characterize the two brands to yourself? Similarities? Differences? What do the brands represent to you?

christianch

Mar 22, 2022

but still nice, can still change it back at some point!

christianch

Mar 22, 2022

very different I would say. Omega is (or used to be, after I tried their aqua terra titanium at 50K!) less pretentious. Most of the Omegas I own are speedmasters manual wind. This makes them limited to air and not water so different for sure than Rolex in this regard. My first WOW watch when I was 18 was a Rolex. It is a brand that is inevitably associated with luxury but the watches are very solid and versatile like no other. Submariner, Day-Date, Daytona all can be worn anytime, anywhere. With

christianch

Mar 22, 2022

for me a bit of a close tie with the WG submariner. These were very expensive in the previous watch context. Now that I steel sport watch is 20-30K all in the Rolex catalogue seems a bargain

patrick_y

Mar 22, 2022

The 6 and 9 are rectangular emerald cut (instead of round brilliant cut). Change it back! Change it back! It's such a nice watch!

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About the Rolex Day-Date 36 Ref. 118206

Specifications

Key Points from the Discussion

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