Rolex President

While certain Rolex watch collections are only offered in one size and with a very limited number of options in regards to materials, dials, bezels, and bracelet styles, the Rolex President is among the most diverse, despite being exclusively offered in precious metals.

Despite the range of different materials and configurations, the overall design of the Rolex President has remained remarkably consistent throughout the years, and its timeless aesthetic and superlative construction have made it one of the finest luxury watches available in the entire world.

NEW ROLEX PRESIDENT PRICES

• When buying a brand-new Rolex President, retail prices will be correlated with size and materials. The least expensive Rolex President from the Day-Date collection has a retail price of $33,150 for the 36mm model in 18k yellow gold, while the Everose and white gold models have an entry-price of $35,850. The 40mm Rolex President models start out at $36,550 for the yellow gold examples, while the 18k white gold and Everose gold models start out at $39,250. For both the 36mm and 40mm models, retail prices for Rolex President watches can increase well into the "price upon request" territory for the solid platinum models set with diamonds, where Rolex does not even list the official retail prices for these watches on its website.

USED Rolex PRESIDENT PRICES

• On the pre-owned market, used Rolex President prices often offer a significant savings when compared to the retail prices of brand-new president models. Additionally, with the exception of exceptionally rare references or models fitted with unique and collectable dials, vintage Rolex President watches typically sell for less than newer models on the secondary market. Prices for used President watches start our at just under $10,000 and increase from there depending on factors such as model, materials, age, configuration, and overall condition.

Rolex Lady-President Prices

• Since Rolex's 'Lady-President' and 'Mid-Size President' watches are actually precious metal versions of the Datejust, they are powered by less complex movements than Rolex President watches from the Day-Date collection. While Day-Date President watches display both the date of the month and the day of the week, the mid-size and Lady-President models lack the additional day complication and just display the numerical date of the month like a standard Datejust. Due to the difference in functionality, prices for mid-size and Lady-President models are less expensive than their full size counterparts. Retail prices for Lady-President watches start at $25,650, while the mid-size models start at $28,450. Prices increase from there for both models depending on the materials of their construction and the different dial and bezel options.

Technically speaking, all Rolex Presidents are either Datejust or Day-Date watches, since the 'President' name actually only officially refers to a style of Rolex bracelet. While the Rolex President shares a lot in common with a number of Rolex's other watches, it does boast a number of traits and features that serve as the defining elements of this universally-renowned statement piece.

PRECIOUS METAL CONSTRUCTION

• With the exception of a few very old models and prototype pieces, all Rolex Day-Date watches are crafted exclusively from precious metals (either solid 18k gold or 950 platinum) and there has never been a Rolex President bracelet crafted from stainless steel. All three colors of gold (yellow, white, and pink) are available on for the Rolex President collection, along with solid platinum; and there are even Tridor models that use all three colors of gold on a single watch; however you will not find a Rolex President bracelet crafted from stainless steel or Rolesor (steel and gold).

DAY AND DATE DISPLAYS

• With the exception of the mid-size and Lady-President models, all Rolex President watches are characterized by their day and date displays. The numerical date of the month is displayed through a window at the 3 o'clock location, while the day of the week (available in a number of different languages) is spelled out in full through a window at the 12 o'clock location.

The Rolex presidential bracelet

• The 'Rolex President' name actually only formally applies to the exclusive style of bracelet; however the name is used interchangeably with the Day-Date collection as a whole. Although Day-Date watches are available without the Rolex President bracelet, this iconic three-link bracelet has become entirely synonymous with the Rolex Day-Date collection.

Originally, the Rolex President was only offered with a 36mm case size; however a total of three different sizes have been used for Rolex Day-Date watches, with the Day-Date II and Day-Date 40 measuring 41mm and 40mm, respectively. 

The Day-Date II was originally released in 2008, but by 2015, the Day-Date II had been discontinued, and replaced by the Day-Date 40. The Day-Date 40 has a case that measures 1mm smaller than its predecessor; however it retains the proportions of the original 36mm model, while the Day-Date II has a slightly chunkier aesthetic with its 41mm case. 

ROLEX PRESIDENT SIZES

• 36mm
• 40mm
• 41mm (discontinued)

Today, the Rolex President is available in 36mm and 40mm case sizes. Although Rolex does offer Lady President models, they are not actually Day-Date watches, but rather are precious metal versions of the ladies and mid-size Datejust watches, fitted with President bracelets.

Above all else, the case size of the watch is one of the largest factors in determining the price of a Rolex President. Generally speaking, the larger models are more expensive than the smaller ones, although certain factors like metal type and gem-set dials and bezels can often make a smaller Rolex President more expensive than a less-adorned larger model. Lady-President models are the least expensive, although since these watches are from the Datejust collection rather than the Day-Date, they do not have the Rolex President's signature day complication. Additionally, many Rolex Day-Date 40 models sell for more than Day-Date II models, simply because these Rolex President watches are newer than their 41mm predecessors.

Although the 'Rolex President' name is now synonymous with the flagship Day-Date collection, there are also Mid-Size and Lady-President watches that are actually precious metal versions of the Datejust collection. These watches do not have the Day-Date collection's signature display for the day of the week, as Rolex has never been offered the Day-Date in a size smaller than 36mm. However, these smaller Rolex President watches are exclusively crafted from either solid 18k gold or 950 platinum, and are fitted with the brand's iconic President bracelet, which lends itself to their "Mid-Size President" and "Lady-President" nicknames.

Rolex Lady-President Watches

Rolex Lady-President watches have been available for much of the brand's history, and are still a popular choice among many female collectors that want the iconic look of the Rolex President in a smaller and more compact package. Originally, Rolex Lady-President watches had a case diameter of 26mm (the same as the Lady-Datejust); however Rolex has since discontinued the 26mm model and replaced it with a slightly larger model that has a 28mm case diameter.

Today, all modern Rolex Lady-President watches are technically Datejust 28 models in solid gold or platinum, and consequently have cases that measure 28mm in diameter. With that in mind, the 26mm version of the Rolex Lady-President is available across a number of different generations and references, and remains an incredibly popular choice among both first-time buyers and seasoned collectors. 

Mid-size Rolex PRESIDENT watches

Just like the Lady-President, Rolex also offers a 'Mid-Size President' that is based on the Datejust collection. Similar to the Lady-President, these mid-size models are exclusively crafted from precious metals. While the full-size Rolex President models measure either 36mm or 40mm, and the Lady-President models have cases that measure either 26mm or 28mm, the mid-size Rolex President models have 31mm cases, splitting the difference between the Lady-President models and the full-size versions from the Day-Date collection. 

In the past, a platinum version of the mid-size Rolex President was available, and while platinum still remains an option for the Lady-President, it has since been discontinued for the 31mm mid-size models. Today, all Rolex Mid-Size President watches are crafted from 18k gold (either yellow, white, or Everose) and are available with a number of different dial and bezel styles.