Rolex Day-Date II 218349

Day-Date → 218349

Rolex Day-Date II ref. 218349 in 18 ct white gold, with black diamond-marker dial, diamond-set bezel, and President bracelet. — Sotheby's listed this black-dial example as a 218349 circa 2010.

The 218349 is the 18 ct white-gold, diamond-bezel version of the 41 mm Day-Date II. Rolex's May 2011 U.S. list and 2015 Netherlands list specify a bezel set with 42 diamonds and a President bracelet, ref. 83219 (2011 list; 2015 list). Catalogued examples show several dials, from black diamond markers to blue waves and pavé with enamel markers.

Core facts

detail	value
reference	218349
model	Oyster Perpetual Day-Date II
family	Day-Date
case	41 mm, 18 ct white gold
bezel	factory-set with 42 brilliant-cut diamonds; Rolex's 2015 list gives approximately 2.80 ct
movement	Cal. 3156 automatic; 31 jewels; chronometer-certified
crystal	synthetic sapphire
bracelet	President, ref. 83219; 21 mm, white gold, 24 links, Crownclasp
calendar	day of week at 12 and date at 3
dated evidence	Bonhams dates one watch to circa 2008; Sotheby's lists one as 2010; Christie's dates one to circa 2013. Rolex lists 218349 in 2011, 2012, and 2015. Exact production endpoints remain unestablished.

Where it sits in the line

The 218349 is the white-gold diamond-bezel sibling of the Day-Date II. Rolex's price lists give the reference-specific stone and bracelet details. It shares the 41 mm case and Cal. 3156 generation with the other 218 references. Fratello's 2019 history uses 218238 as its Day-Date II example and dates the generation launch to 2008. See the Day-Date index for the broader model sequence and 218238 for the 41 mm generation overview.

Production outline

Bonhams dates one 218349 to circa 2008 and gives the movement number as 32939650. Sotheby's lists a second example with the year 2010, and Christie's catalogues case 387PX897 circa 2013 with a guarantee dated that year. Rolex's 2011, 2012, and 2015 price lists include the reference. The Day-Date II family spans the 2008 launch and the 2015 introduction of the 40 mm Day-Date 40. Exact production endpoints for 218349 remain undated in the records cited here.

Movement notes

Bonhams identifies Cal. 3156 in its circa-2008 example. Rolex's 2011 list describes the Day-Date II movement as a 31-jewel chronometer. Rolex's Day-Date timeline identifies Cal. 3156, the Parachrom hairspring, and Paraflex shock absorbers with the 41 mm generation. Monochrome's Day-Date history describes the same movement in its 218238 overview. The 2011 specification also gives a synthetic sapphire crystal. See Movements for the shared caliber details.

Dial map

Rolex's price lists and dated watch records document several dial configurations. The lists specify three settings; the examples add color and marker details.

dial configuration	record	what it establishes
Black dial with eight round and two baguette diamond markers	Sotheby's 2010 listing and photographs; Rolex's 2011 U.S. list	Rolex lists the marker setting; Sotheby's photographs show it on a black dial.
Eight baguette diamonds and two baguette sapphires	Rolex's June 2012 U.S. list	A reference-specific catalogue option.
Pavé diamond dial with enamel markers	Rolex's June 2012 U.S. list; 2013 Rolex Certified Pre-Owned record	The catalogue lists the setting; the 2013 watch is described with full pavé on black enamel.
Blue-waves dial with applied white-gold Arabic numerals	Christie's case 387PX897, circa 2013	Christie's calls this individual example “blue waves”; the article retains the catalogue wording.
Silver dial with diamond markers	Mark Worthington Jewellers reports UK supply in 2012; a 2021 Rolex Forums sale post describes a 2013 warranty card	Both listings describe seller-reported examples.

Black diamond-marker dial and bezel, Sotheby's listing
Angled view of the same dial and bezel, Sotheby's listing

Case, bezel, crystal, and dimensions

The case is 41 mm and 18 ct white gold. In a 2021 video review, Tim Mosso measures a separate 218349 at 12.1 mm thick and 49.6 mm lug-to-lug. Rolex's 2015 Netherlands list specifies 42 brilliant-cut bezel diamonds, approximately 2.80 carats in total. Bonhams' lot 51 describes its case as brushed and polished, with a screw-down back and diamond-set bezel. Rolex's 2011 U.S. price list specifies a synthetic sapphire crystal.

Mark Worthington Jewellers reports that its example received a Rolex UK service in 2016, including sapphire replacement and case and bracelet refurbishment. That service history applies to that watch alone.

Three-quarter case and bracelet view, Sotheby's listing
Opposite three-quarter view, Sotheby's listing

Bracelet, clasp, and packaging notes

Rolex's 2015 Netherlands list describes the 83219 as a 21 mm, 24-link white-gold President bracelet with Crownclasp. Its 2011 U.S. list calls the clasp concealed; the 2015 list groups 83219 fitment with 218239, 218349, and 218399BR. Bonhams' circa-2008 example has a concealed folding clasp stamped LT3. Bonhams gives the case number separately as V664885; read LT3 as a clasp-code observation.

Sotheby's lists one example with a box and papers. Christie's records a 2013 guarantee, tags, product literature, and packaging for its example.

Underside view of the white-gold President bracelet on a Rolex Day-Date II ref. 218349. — Bracelet underside on Sotheby's listed 218349.

Dated catalogue and marketplace records

record	what the catalogue documents
Bonhams, London, lot 51, 2024	Case V664885, circa 2008; Cal. 3156, movement no. 32939650; black dial with diamond markers; 41 mm; President bracelet and clasp stamped LT3. Bonhams gives a catalogue estimate.
Sotheby's Buy Now marketplace listing	A separate 41 mm white-gold example; Sotheby's lists its year as 2010 and describes a black diamond-set dial and diamond bezel. The record is a fixed-price marketplace listing.
Christie's, New York, lot 55, 2026	Case 387PX897, circa 2013; blue-waves dial with applied white-gold Arabic numerals; 41 mm white gold and President bracelet; guarantee dated 2013.

Related references

218238, yellow gold with fluted bezel
218239, white gold with fluted bezel
218206, platinum with smooth bezel
Day-Date family index
Bracelet and clasp guide
Serial numbers by year

Gallery

Straight-on black dial example, circa 2010; Sotheby's
Dial and bezel detail; Sotheby's
Angled dial view; Sotheby's
Bracelet underside and caseback; Sotheby's
Three-quarter view; Sotheby's
Case and bracelet profile; Sotheby's

Sources