{"id":32595,"date":"2026-11-04T11:30:51","date_gmt":"2026-11-04T11:30:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swisswatchexpo.com\/thewatchclub\/?p=32595"},"modified":"2026-11-04T11:56:29","modified_gmt":"2026-11-04T11:56:29","slug":"rolex-day-date-40-yellow-gold-onyx-diamond-watch-228348","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swisswatchexpo.com\/thewatchclub\/rolex-day-date-40-yellow-gold-onyx-diamond-watch-228348\/","title":{"rendered":"Heavy Gold and Black Stone: The Art of the Rolex Day-Date 40 Onyx Dial 228348"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-path-to-node=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Few watchmaking traditions command attention quite like a Rolex stone dial. Since the mid-20th century, the Crown has periodically turned to the earth\u2019s raw minerals\u2014lapis lazuli, malachite, tiger\u2019s eye, turquoise, and carnelian\u2014to transform the flagship Rolex Day-Date into a wearable piece of geological art.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-path-to-node=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Among all the ornamental stones Rolex has ever worked with,\u00a0black onyx\u00a0holds a uniquely revered status. Deep, mirror-like, and unapologetically bold against 18k yellow gold, the onyx dial is the ultimate expression of formal luxury.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-path-to-node=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In its contemporary 40mm execution\u2014the\u00a0<\/span><b>Rolex President Day-Date 40 Yellow Gold Onyx Stone Diamond Watch Ref. 228348<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014Rolex elevates this historic stone with factory-set diamond brilliance, creating one of the most visually arresting configurations in the modern catalog.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #006699;\"><strong><b>The Secret in the Stone: Why Every Onyx Dial is a Piece of One<\/b><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/NisE1zFX2gg\" width=\"665\" height=\"370\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-path-to-node=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At first glance, an onyx dial appears to be an abyss of pure, polished black. Yet when you examine this particular\u00a0<\/span><b>Rolex Day-Date 40 Ref. 228348<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0under studio lighting, a fascinating detail emerges across the lower hemisphere between 5 and 7 o\u2019clock: a delicate, horizontal wisp of natural white banding.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-path-to-node=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Black onyx is a banded variety of the silicate mineral chalcedony. While vintage Rolex onyx dials from the 1970s and 1980s were often selected for uniform blackness, modern Rolex dial artisans embrace the organic character of the raw stone.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>A Geological Fingerprint:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0Those subtle white and smoky-grey mineral layers across the black onyx surface are completely natural formations within the agate family. Because each dial is sliced from raw stone, the veining pattern on every watch is entirely unique.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>High-Risk Artisanal Milling:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0Crafting a dial out of natural stone is notoriously unforgiving. Raw onyx must be sliced into an ultra-thin disc measuring fractions of a millimeter, lapped to a glass-like specular polish, and fitted onto a brass baseplate. A single microscopic fracture during cutting or drilling forces the dial maker to start over.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #006699;\"><strong><b>Piercing the Stone: 10 Baguette-Cut Diamonds<\/b><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<figure id=\"attachment_32600\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-32600\" style=\"width: 500px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.swisswatchexpo.com\/watches\/rolex-president-day-date-40-yellow-gold-onyx-stone-diamond-watch-228348-box-card-84721\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-32600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.swisswatchexpo.com\/thewatchclub\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/rolex-president-day-date-40-yellow-gold-onyx-stone-diamond-watch-228348-dial.jpg\" alt=\"Straight-on dial view of the Rolex President Day-Date 40 Yellow Gold Onyx Stone Diamond Watch 228348 showing 10 baguette diamond hour markers, a 48-diamond bezel, and natural white mineral banding between 5 and 7 o'clock\" width=\"500\" height=\"500\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.swisswatchexpo.com\/thewatchclub\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/rolex-president-day-date-40-yellow-gold-onyx-stone-diamond-watch-228348-dial.jpg 1700w, https:\/\/www.swisswatchexpo.com\/thewatchclub\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/rolex-president-day-date-40-yellow-gold-onyx-stone-diamond-watch-228348-dial-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.swisswatchexpo.com\/thewatchclub\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/rolex-president-day-date-40-yellow-gold-onyx-stone-diamond-watch-228348-dial-900x900.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.swisswatchexpo.com\/thewatchclub\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/rolex-president-day-date-40-yellow-gold-onyx-stone-diamond-watch-228348-dial-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.swisswatchexpo.com\/thewatchclub\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/rolex-president-day-date-40-yellow-gold-onyx-stone-diamond-watch-228348-dial-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.swisswatchexpo.com\/thewatchclub\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/rolex-president-day-date-40-yellow-gold-onyx-stone-diamond-watch-228348-dial-1200x1200.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-32600\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A straight-on look at the Rolex Day-Date 40 Ref. 228348 reveals the crisp geometry of the 10 baguette-cut diamond hour markers and the natural white mineral banding sweeping between 5 and 7 o\u2019clock.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-path-to-node=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the vintage era (such as on 36mm references 18038 and 18238),\u00a0Rolex almost always left its onyx dials completely &#8220;sterile&#8221;\u2014free of hour markers\u2014because drilling into brittle stone carried such a high rate of breakage.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-path-to-node=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With the modern 40mm generation, Rolex showcased just how far its in-house manufacturing technology has advanced. Rather than leaving the dial bare, Rolex pierces the polished black onyx to hand-set\u00a0<\/span><b>10 baguette-cut diamond hour markers<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, each framed in polished 18k yellow gold settings.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-path-to-node=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The architectural geometry of the rectangular baguette diamonds plays effortlessly off the curved day aperture at 12 o\u2019clock and the framed date window at 3 o\u2019clock. Against the dark depth of the onyx surface, the step-cut facets of the baguettes produce crisp, linear flashes of light rather than busy sparkle, keeping the dial balanced and legible.<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #006699;\"><strong><b>Factory Rolex Gem-Setting: A Halo of 48 Diamonds<\/b><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-path-to-node=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Where the standard ref. 228238 features Rolex\u2019s classic fluted gold bezel, reference\u00a0<\/span><b>228348<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0frames the dark onyx dial with a continuous halo of\u00a0<\/span><b>48 brilliant-cut factory diamonds<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0set into 18k yellow gold.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-path-to-node=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When it comes to diamond-set timepieces,\u00a0<\/span><b>factory Rolex gem-setting sits in a league of its own<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">:<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>The Top 1% of Stones:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0Rolex\u2019s in-house gemological laboratory tests and selects only natural diamonds that fall within the highest grades of color (D to G) and clarity (IF,\u00a0with no inclusions visible under 10x magnification).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Sculpted Gold Settings:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0Rolex master gem-setters hand-carve the 18k yellow gold bezel to custom-fit each individual stone. Every diamond is aligned to within hundredths of a millimeter for height, table orientation, and spacing, ensuring a seamless ring of fire around the sapphire crystal.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Harmonious Proportions:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0Because the bezel and dial were engineered together in Geneva, the brilliance of the 48 round bezel diamonds complements\u2014rather than overpowers\u2014the cool, architectural flash of the 10 baguette hour markers on the onyx face.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #006699;\"><strong><b>Heavy Metal Engineering: 18k Yellow Gold &amp; Caliber 3255<\/b><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-path-to-node=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Surrounding the stone and diamonds is a 40mm Oyster case and matching\u00a0President bracelet, cast entirely from 18k yellow gold produced in Rolex\u2019s own exclusive foundry.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-path-to-node=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">First introduced in 1956 alongside the original Day-Date, the three-piece semi-circular link President bracelet remains one of the most comfortable precious-metal bracelets in watchmaking. On the modern 40mm references, Rolex conceals ceramic inserts inside the gold links. This crucial engineering detail prevents metal-on-metal friction over decades of wear, preserving the bracelet&#8217;s tight, fluid drape on the wrist.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-path-to-node=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Beneath the solid gold screw-down caseback beats the\u00a0Rolex Caliber 3255,\u00a0a self-winding mechanical movement built for everyday chronometric reliability:<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_32599\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-32599\" style=\"width: 500px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.swisswatchexpo.com\/watches\/rolex-president-day-date-40-yellow-gold-onyx-stone-diamond-watch-228348-box-card-84721\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-32599\" src=\"https:\/\/www.swisswatchexpo.com\/thewatchclub\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/rolex-president-day-date-40-yellow-gold-228348-caliber-3255-movement.jpg\" alt=\"Rolex Caliber 3255 automatic movement inside the 18k yellow gold Rolex President Day-Date 40 Ref 228348 showing the skeletonized Perpetual rotor, balance wheel, and Au750 lug hallmark\" width=\"500\" height=\"500\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.swisswatchexpo.com\/thewatchclub\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/rolex-president-day-date-40-yellow-gold-228348-caliber-3255-movement.jpg 1700w, https:\/\/www.swisswatchexpo.com\/thewatchclub\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/rolex-president-day-date-40-yellow-gold-228348-caliber-3255-movement-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.swisswatchexpo.com\/thewatchclub\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/rolex-president-day-date-40-yellow-gold-228348-caliber-3255-movement-900x900.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.swisswatchexpo.com\/thewatchclub\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/rolex-president-day-date-40-yellow-gold-228348-caliber-3255-movement-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.swisswatchexpo.com\/thewatchclub\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/rolex-president-day-date-40-yellow-gold-228348-caliber-3255-movement-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.swisswatchexpo.com\/thewatchclub\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/rolex-president-day-date-40-yellow-gold-228348-caliber-3255-movement-1200x1200.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-32599\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A rare look beneath the solid 18k yellow gold caseback of the Rolex Day-Date 40 Ref. 228348 reveals the in-house Caliber 3255 movement, complete with its openworked Perpetual rotor, Paraflex shock absorber, and the Au750 gold hallmark stamped on the lug.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Chronergy Escapement:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Optimized for energy efficiency and crafted from nickel-phosphorus to remain impervious to magnetic interference.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>70-Hour Power Reserve:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Allows the wearer to take the watch off on Friday evening and strap it back on Monday morning without needing to reset the time,\u00a0day,\u00a0or date.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Superlative Chronometer Precision:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0Tested after casing to an exacting standard of -2\/+2 seconds per day, paired with a paramagnetic blue Parachrom hairspring and Paraflex shock absorbers.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #006699;\"><strong><b>Another Way to Wear the Look: The Rolex Datejust 36 Ref. 116243<\/b><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<figure id=\"attachment_32598\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-32598\" style=\"width: 1700px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.swisswatchexpo.com\/watches\/rolex-datejust-black-dial-steel-yellow-gold-diamond-mens-watch-116243-59243\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-32598 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.swisswatchexpo.com\/thewatchclub\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/rolex-datejust-onyx-stone-diamond-dial-steel-yellow-gold-mens-watch-116243.jpg\" alt=\" Rolex Datejust 36 Steel and Yellow Gold Watch Ref 116243 with a trackless black onyx dial, diamond-set 6 and 9 Arabic numerals, factory diamond bezel, and Jubilee bracelet\" width=\"1700\" height=\"1214\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.swisswatchexpo.com\/thewatchclub\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/rolex-datejust-onyx-stone-diamond-dial-steel-yellow-gold-mens-watch-116243.jpg 1700w, https:\/\/www.swisswatchexpo.com\/thewatchclub\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/rolex-datejust-onyx-stone-diamond-dial-steel-yellow-gold-mens-watch-116243-300x214.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.swisswatchexpo.com\/thewatchclub\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/rolex-datejust-onyx-stone-diamond-dial-steel-yellow-gold-mens-watch-116243-1200x857.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.swisswatchexpo.com\/thewatchclub\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/rolex-datejust-onyx-stone-diamond-dial-steel-yellow-gold-mens-watch-116243-768x548.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.swisswatchexpo.com\/thewatchclub\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/rolex-datejust-onyx-stone-diamond-dial-steel-yellow-gold-mens-watch-116243-1536x1097.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1700px) 100vw, 1700px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-32598\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Rolex Datejust 36 Steel and Yellow Gold Ref. 116243 echoes the trackless black-and-diamond aesthetic with diamond-set 18k yellow gold 6 and 9 numerals, a factory diamond bezel, and a two-tone Jubilee bracelet.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-path-to-node=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For collectors who love the high-contrast drama of a deep black dial paired with warm 18k yellow gold and factory diamonds, Rolex offers more than one path to the aesthetic. Alongside solid gold\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.swisswatchexpo.com\/watches\/rolex\/president\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rolex Day-Date President watches<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, the\u00a0<\/span><b>Rolex Datejust Steel and Yellow Gold Diamond Watch Ref. 116243<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0captures the same black-tie sophistication in a 36mm two-tone silhouette.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-path-to-node=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Viewing the\u00a0<\/span><b>Day-Date 40 Ref. 228348<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0and the\u00a0<\/span><b>Datejust 36 Ref. 116243<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0side by side highlights how subtle design choices transform the character of a timepiece on the wrist:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>The Dial Architecture:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0Just like the onyx Day-Date 40, the Datejust 116243 foregoes a printed minute track around the perimeter to let the glossy black dial surface take center stage. While the Day-Date 40 marks the hours with 10 linear baguette-cut diamonds across natural banded stone, the Datejust 116243 leans into minimalist symmetry\u2014leaving the black dial open save for the applied 18k yellow gold\u00a0<\/span>6 and 9 Arabic numerals set with diamonds.<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Case Proportions &amp; Metal Profile:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0The\u00a0<\/span>Day-Date 40 Ref. 228348 delivers the unmistakable heft and warmth of full 18k yellow gold across a 40mm case and three-link President bracelet. Exploring our collection of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.swisswatchexpo.com\/watches\/rolex\/datejust\/\">Rolex Datejust watches<\/a>\u00a0reveals how\u00a0Ref. 116243\u00a0pairs an 18k yellow gold factory diamond bezel and gold center links with outer links and lugs crafted from Oystersteel, all fitted on a five-link Jubilee bracelet in a classic 36mm footprint.<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Signature Rolex Brilliance:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0Both models showcase factory-set brilliant-cut diamond bezels in 18k yellow gold, ensuring that whichever size or bracelet style suits your wrist, you experience the exact same standard of Rolex gemological craftsmanship.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-path-to-node=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\nWhether you gravitate toward the one-of-a-kind geological veining and baguette diamonds of the Rolex Day-Date 40 Ref. 228348 or the sleek, minimalist 6-and-9 layout of the Rolex Datejust Ref. 116243, few combinations in watchmaking rival the timeless pairing of black, yellow gold, and factory diamonds.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-path-to-node=\"2\"><span class=\"\" data-path-to-node=\"50,0\">Ready to add a rare stone dial or factory diamond timepiece to your collection<\/span><span class=\"\" data-path-to-node=\"50,2\">? Explore our curated selection of certified authentic pre-owned Rolex watches at SwissWatchExpo, where thousands of timepieces are in stock and ready to ship.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-path-to-node=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"color: #006699;\"><a style=\"color: #006699;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.swisswatchexpo.com\/just-arrived\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong><b>Shop at SwissWatchExpo<\/b><\/strong><\/a><\/span><br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"2\"><strong><span style=\"color: #006699;\"><a style=\"color: #006699;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.swisswatchexpo.com\/contact-us\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Talk to our Experts<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f5f5f5; border: 1px solid #dddddd; padding: 35px; margin: 40px 0; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: #333333; box-sizing: border-box;\">\n<h3 style=\"font-size: 18px; font-weight: 600; text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: 1.5px; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 15px; color: #111111;\">About SwissWatchExpo<\/h3>\n<p style=\"font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.7; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 15px; text-align: justify;\">Trust is everything in the secondary watch market. For decades, SwissWatchExpo has helped collectors safely buy, sell, and trade authentic, pre-owned luxury watches. With over 75,000 watches bought and sold, we have established our reputation on quality, transparency, and a customer-first buying experience.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.7; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 25px; text-align: justify;\">Every watch is meticulously opened, inspected, authenticated and serviced by our team of in-house expert watchmakers before being offered for sale. We take out the guess work so you can buy your next watch with confidence. Learn more <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.swisswatchexpo.com\/about-us\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">about us<\/a><\/span> or see our <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.swisswatchexpo.com\/authenticity-guarantee\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">authenticity guarantee<\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"font-size: 18px; font-weight: 600; text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: 1.5px; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 15px; border-bottom: 1px solid #dddddd; padding-bottom: 10px; color: #111111; text-align: justify;\">Why Choose SwissWatchExpo<\/h3>\n<ul style=\"list-style-type: none; padding: 0; margin: 0;\">\n<li style=\"margin-bottom: 15px; display: flex; text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #b39b5e; font-weight: bold; margin-right: 10px; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.7;\">\u2713<\/span>\n<div style=\"font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.7;\"><strong>100% Owned Inventory.<\/strong> We have one of the largest inventories of pre-owned watches under one roof in North America &#8211; and we own every watch we sell. If a piece is on our site, it is in our showroom and ready to ship.<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"margin-bottom: 15px; display: flex; text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #b39b5e; font-weight: bold; margin-right: 10px; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.7;\">\u2713<\/span>\n<div style=\"font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.7;\"><strong>In-House, Swiss-Trained Watchmakers.<\/strong> Our own team of experts inspects the mechanics and verifies the origin of every single piece before it ever hits the sales floor.<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"margin-bottom: 15px; display: flex; text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #b39b5e; font-weight: bold; margin-right: 10px; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.7;\">\u2713<\/span>\n<div style=\"font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.7;\"><strong>Non-Commissioned Watch Consultants.<\/strong> We specialize entirely in watches, and our watch consultants aren&#8217;t paid based on what you spend. The focus is strictly on helping you find the right timepiece without the pressure.<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"margin-bottom: 15px; display: flex; text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #b39b5e; font-weight: bold; margin-right: 10px; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.7;\">\u2713<\/span>\n<div style=\"font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.7;\"><strong>Unmatched Transparency.<\/strong> We absolutely never use stock images. Our team photographs the exact watch you are buying, so you know exactly what the dial, case, and bracelet look like up close.<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"margin-bottom: 0; display: flex; text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #b39b5e; font-weight: bold; margin-right: 10px; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.7;\">\u2713<\/span>\n<div style=\"font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.7;\"><strong>Better Pricing Through Efficiency.<\/strong> Everything happens under one roof at our Atlanta headquarters. Keeping our operations streamlined allows us to offer much sharper pricing to our buyers.<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Few watchmaking traditions command attention quite like a Rolex stone dial. Since the mid-20th century, the Crown has periodically turned to the earth\u2019s raw minerals\u2014lapis lazuli, malachite, tiger\u2019s eye, turquoise, and carnelian\u2014to transform the flagship Rolex Day-Date into a wearable piece of geological art. Among all the ornamental stones Rolex has ever worked with,\u00a0black onyx\u00a0holds&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":32601,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","beyondwords_generate_audio":"","beyondwords_integration_method":"","beyondwords_project_id":"","beyondwords_content_id":"","beyondwords_preview_token":"","beyondwords_player_content":"","beyondwords_player_style":"","beyondwords_language_code":"","beyondwords_language_id":"","beyondwords_title_voice_id":"","beyondwords_body_voice_id":"","beyondwords_summary_voice_id":"","beyondwords_error_message":"","beyondwords_disabled":"","beyondwords_delete_content":"","beyondwords_podcast_id":"","beyondwords_hash":"","publish_post_to_speechkit":"","speechkit_hash":"","speechkit_generate_audio":"","speechkit_project_id":"","speechkit_podcast_id":"","speechkit_error_message":"","speechkit_disabled":"","speechkit_access_key":"","speechkit_error":"","speechkit_info":"","speechkit_response":"","speechkit_retries":"","speechkit_status":"","speechkit_updated_at":"","_speechkit_link":"","_speechkit_text":""},"categories":[1488],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-32595","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-explore-the-brands"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v25.6 (Yoast SEO v25.6) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Heavy Gold and Black Stone: The Art of the Rolex Day-Date 40 Onyx Dial 228348 | The Watch Club by SwissWatchExpo<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Explore the craftsmanship behind the Rolex Day-Date 40 Onyx Dial 18k yellow gold, featuring a natural black onyx stone dial and factory diamonds.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.swisswatchexpo.com\/thewatchclub\/rolex-day-date-40-yellow-gold-onyx-diamond-watch-228348\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Heavy Gold and Black Stone: The Art of the Rolex Day-Date 40 Onyx Dial 228348\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Explore the craftsmanship behind the Rolex Day-Date 40 Onyx Dial 18k yellow gold, featuring a natural black onyx stone dial and factory diamonds.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.swisswatchexpo.com\/thewatchclub\/rolex-day-date-40-yellow-gold-onyx-diamond-watch-228348\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"The Watch Club by SwissWatchExpo\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/SwissWatchExpo\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-11-04T11:30:51+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-11-04T11:56:29+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.swisswatchexpo.com\/thewatchclub\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/rolex-president-day-date-40-yellow-gold-onyx-stone-diamond-watch-228348.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1700\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1417\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"swisswatchexpo\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"swisswatchexpo\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"8 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.swisswatchexpo.com\/thewatchclub\/rolex-day-date-40-yellow-gold-onyx-diamond-watch-228348\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.swisswatchexpo.com\/thewatchclub\/rolex-day-date-40-yellow-gold-onyx-diamond-watch-228348\/\",\"name\":\"Heavy Gold and Black Stone: The Art of the Rolex Day-Date 40 Onyx Dial 228348 | The Watch Club by SwissWatchExpo\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.swisswatchexpo.com\/thewatchclub\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.swisswatchexpo.com\/thewatchclub\/rolex-day-date-40-yellow-gold-onyx-diamond-watch-228348\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.swisswatchexpo.com\/thewatchclub\/rolex-day-date-40-yellow-gold-onyx-diamond-watch-228348\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.swisswatchexpo.com\/thewatchclub\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/rolex-president-day-date-40-yellow-gold-onyx-stone-diamond-watch-228348.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-11-04T11:30:51+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-11-04T11:56:29+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.swisswatchexpo.com\/thewatchclub\/#\/schema\/person\/ad3ffac317e1ac7b27e6af72d320017d\"},\"description\":\"Explore the craftsmanship behind the Rolex Day-Date 40 Onyx Dial 18k yellow gold, featuring a natural black onyx stone dial and factory diamonds.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.swisswatchexpo.com\/thewatchclub\/rolex-day-date-40-yellow-gold-onyx-diamond-watch-228348\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.swisswatchexpo.com\/thewatchclub\/rolex-day-date-40-yellow-gold-onyx-diamond-watch-228348\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.swisswatchexpo.com\/thewatchclub\/rolex-day-date-40-yellow-gold-onyx-diamond-watch-228348\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.swisswatchexpo.com\/thewatchclub\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/rolex-president-day-date-40-yellow-gold-onyx-stone-diamond-watch-228348.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.swisswatchexpo.com\/thewatchclub\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/rolex-president-day-date-40-yellow-gold-onyx-stone-diamond-watch-228348.jpg\",\"width\":1700,\"height\":1417,\"caption\":\"The Rolex President Day-Date 40 Ref. 228348 in 18k yellow gold pairs a mirror-polished black onyx stone dial\u2014complete with a natural white mineral streak across the lower hemisphere\u2014with 10 baguette-cut diamond markers and a 48-diamond bezel.\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.swisswatchexpo.com\/thewatchclub\/rolex-day-date-40-yellow-gold-onyx-diamond-watch-228348\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.swisswatchexpo.com\/thewatchclub\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Heavy Gold and Black Stone: The Art of the Rolex Day-Date 40 Onyx Dial 228348\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.swisswatchexpo.com\/thewatchclub\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.swisswatchexpo.com\/thewatchclub\/\",\"name\":\"The Watch Club by SwissWatchExpo\",\"description\":\"The best and the latest in watches\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.swisswatchexpo.com\/thewatchclub\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.swisswatchexpo.com\/thewatchclub\/#\/schema\/person\/ad3ffac317e1ac7b27e6af72d320017d\",\"name\":\"swisswatchexpo\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.swisswatchexpo.com\/thewatchclub\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/89335bf808b4603dab2164294fc14d2931921cdaa1473ad21d9feaa1479d1526?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/89335bf808b4603dab2164294fc14d2931921cdaa1473ad21d9feaa1479d1526?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"swisswatchexpo\"},\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.swisswatchexpo.com\/thewatchclub\/author\/swisswatchexpo\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Heavy Gold and Black Stone: The Art of the Rolex Day-Date 40 Onyx Dial 228348 | The Watch Club by SwissWatchExpo","description":"Explore the craftsmanship behind the Rolex Day-Date 40 Onyx Dial 18k yellow gold, featuring a natural black onyx stone dial and factory diamonds.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.swisswatchexpo.com\/thewatchclub\/rolex-day-date-40-yellow-gold-onyx-diamond-watch-228348\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Heavy Gold and Black Stone: The Art of the Rolex Day-Date 40 Onyx Dial 228348","og_description":"Explore the craftsmanship behind the Rolex Day-Date 40 Onyx Dial 18k yellow gold, featuring a natural black onyx stone dial and factory diamonds.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.swisswatchexpo.com\/thewatchclub\/rolex-day-date-40-yellow-gold-onyx-diamond-watch-228348\/","og_site_name":"The Watch Club by SwissWatchExpo","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/SwissWatchExpo","article_published_time":"2026-11-04T11:30:51+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-11-04T11:56:29+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1700,"height":1417,"url":"https:\/\/www.swisswatchexpo.com\/thewatchclub\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/rolex-president-day-date-40-yellow-gold-onyx-stone-diamond-watch-228348.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"swisswatchexpo","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"swisswatchexpo","Est. reading time":"8 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.swisswatchexpo.com\/thewatchclub\/rolex-day-date-40-yellow-gold-onyx-diamond-watch-228348\/","url":"https:\/\/www.swisswatchexpo.com\/thewatchclub\/rolex-day-date-40-yellow-gold-onyx-diamond-watch-228348\/","name":"Heavy Gold and Black Stone: The Art of the Rolex Day-Date 40 Onyx Dial 228348 | The Watch Club by SwissWatchExpo","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.swisswatchexpo.com\/thewatchclub\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.swisswatchexpo.com\/thewatchclub\/rolex-day-date-40-yellow-gold-onyx-diamond-watch-228348\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.swisswatchexpo.com\/thewatchclub\/rolex-day-date-40-yellow-gold-onyx-diamond-watch-228348\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.swisswatchexpo.com\/thewatchclub\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/rolex-president-day-date-40-yellow-gold-onyx-stone-diamond-watch-228348.jpg","datePublished":"2026-11-04T11:30:51+00:00","dateModified":"2026-11-04T11:56:29+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.swisswatchexpo.com\/thewatchclub\/#\/schema\/person\/ad3ffac317e1ac7b27e6af72d320017d"},"description":"Explore the craftsmanship behind the Rolex Day-Date 40 Onyx Dial 18k yellow gold, featuring a natural black onyx stone dial and factory diamonds.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.swisswatchexpo.com\/thewatchclub\/rolex-day-date-40-yellow-gold-onyx-diamond-watch-228348\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.swisswatchexpo.com\/thewatchclub\/rolex-day-date-40-yellow-gold-onyx-diamond-watch-228348\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.swisswatchexpo.com\/thewatchclub\/rolex-day-date-40-yellow-gold-onyx-diamond-watch-228348\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.swisswatchexpo.com\/thewatchclub\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/rolex-president-day-date-40-yellow-gold-onyx-stone-diamond-watch-228348.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.swisswatchexpo.com\/thewatchclub\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/rolex-president-day-date-40-yellow-gold-onyx-stone-diamond-watch-228348.jpg","width":1700,"height":1417,"caption":"The Rolex President Day-Date 40 Ref. 228348 in 18k yellow gold pairs a mirror-polished black onyx stone dial\u2014complete with a natural white mineral streak across the lower hemisphere\u2014with 10 baguette-cut diamond markers and a 48-diamond bezel."},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.swisswatchexpo.com\/thewatchclub\/rolex-day-date-40-yellow-gold-onyx-diamond-watch-228348\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.swisswatchexpo.com\/thewatchclub\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Heavy Gold and Black Stone: The Art of the Rolex Day-Date 40 Onyx Dial 228348"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.swisswatchexpo.com\/thewatchclub\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.swisswatchexpo.com\/thewatchclub\/","name":"The Watch Club by SwissWatchExpo","description":"The best and the latest in watches","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.swisswatchexpo.com\/thewatchclub\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.swisswatchexpo.com\/thewatchclub\/#\/schema\/person\/ad3ffac317e1ac7b27e6af72d320017d","name":"swisswatchexpo","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.swisswatchexpo.com\/thewatchclub\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/89335bf808b4603dab2164294fc14d2931921cdaa1473ad21d9feaa1479d1526?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/89335bf808b4603dab2164294fc14d2931921cdaa1473ad21d9feaa1479d1526?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"swisswatchexpo"},"url":"https:\/\/www.swisswatchexpo.com\/thewatchclub\/author\/swisswatchexpo\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.swisswatchexpo.com\/thewatchclub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32595","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.swisswatchexpo.com\/thewatchclub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.swisswatchexpo.com\/thewatchclub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.swisswatchexpo.com\/thewatchclub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.swisswatchexpo.com\/thewatchclub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=32595"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/www.swisswatchexpo.com\/thewatchclub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32595\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":32610,"href":"https:\/\/www.swisswatchexpo.com\/thewatchclub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32595\/revisions\/32610"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.swisswatchexpo.com\/thewatchclub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/32601"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.swisswatchexpo.com\/thewatchclub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=32595"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.swisswatchexpo.com\/thewatchclub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=32595"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.swisswatchexpo.com\/thewatchclub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=32595"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}