At 40mm, the 228235 reference houses one of the more distinctive Day-Date dial finishes available, and this replica day-date 228235 captures the Sundust execution that first appeared in the current-generation catalogue. Sundust is a warm dial colour Rolex uses only on Everose references, sitting somewhere between champagne and pink with a sunray finish that shifts tone depending on the viewing angle. Pink-gold Roman numerals and applied baton indexes share the hour track. Paired with the Everose President bracelet, the overall effect is cohesive warmth from case to clasp.

Technical Overview

• Reference: 228235-0001
• Case diameter: 40mm
• Case material: 18 ct Everose gold
• Bezel: fluted Everose
• Dial: Sundust with pink-gold Roman numerals and baton indexes
• Crystal: sapphire with Cyclops lens
• Bracelet: President, semi-circular three-piece links
• Movement: clone Cal. 3255, automatic
• Power reserve: 70 hours
• Water resistance: 100 m
• Options: A-grade with a Japanese automatic movement $349, super clone $849

The 228235 uses the same 40mm case architecture as every modern Day-Date, but the Sundust dial is only offered in Everose configurations. The listing holds two builds: a $349 A-grade with a Japanese automatic calendar movement, and the $849 super clone with the clone Cal. 3255.

Inside the Movement

The clone Cal. 3255 provides a 70-hour power reserve and the instantaneous day-date change at midnight. The balance frequency runs at 28,800 vibrations per hour, producing a smooth sweep on the seconds hand. What makes the 228235 notable mechanically is that it shares the same calendar architecture with the 228206 and 228238, meaning the rolex day date 228235 differs from its siblings purely on external aesthetics rather than internal engineering. For dial contrast within the collection, compare the Sundust against the 128238 chocolate dial, which uses a darker warm tone in yellow gold at 36mm. Both explore warm palettes but in different metals and proportions. The full Day-Date range includes over a dozen dial colours, yet Sundust remains one of the few that are metal-exclusive.

What Sets It Apart

Sundust dials occupy a narrow space between champagne and pink that no other dial colour in the Rolex catalogue repeats. Under fluorescent lighting the dial appears closer to champagne, while natural sunlight pulls out the pink undertones. This chameleon quality makes it a versatile option that adapts to different settings without looking out of place. The Everose case reinforces rather than competes with the dial warmth, and the Roman numerals separate this card from the Sundust sibling that carries baguette markers instead. This replica day-date 228235 represents the most harmonious metal-and-dial pairing in the current 40mm Day-Date range.

Other versions of this model in stock: Rolex Day-Date 40 228206 olive Arabic, Rolex Day-Date 40 228235 slate ombre dial, Rolex Day-Date 40 228235-0002 chocolate Roman.