WOW The NEW Rolex Day-Date 228235 'Slate Ombre' Dial released for the Oscars!
Rolex Day-Date 40 228235 “Slate Ombre”
This is one of the 2024 crop of new releases from the Rolex Day-Date 40 range, and even if I do say so myself, it’s a very tasty little number, to the point that as more come to market, requests for “Ombre” dials are beginning to outstrip the venerable “Olive” dial as far as fan favourites go.
There are two new Day-Date Ombre dial tones out there, a rather striking green, and this slate model which is a little more restrained.
Ombre translates from French to “Shaded” and refers to the seamless blending of one hue to another.
That is exactly the name of the game here with this dial which shifts from a black outer edge to a sunburst slate tone towards the centre of the dial.
It is fume by any other name, and it works exceptionally well when paired with the warmth of The Crown's 18ct Everose gold.
Rolex is just so good at getting colour balance right when pairing dials to metals.
One thing thats particularly interesting about this one, is that despite being a Day-Date which is associated with being Boss Level, and despite being a technically trickier dial to manufacture, the great allure of this particular Day-Date is that it looks deceptively clean and simple which is always a classic combination in my book.
Yes, it has a lovely smokey dial, but the deconstructed Roman Numerals without seriffs, flourishes, lume, or anything to detract really does make a genuinely knockout piece.
Less in this case, is definitely more.
As for the rest of the watch, it’s a 40mm piece which sits nice and slim at 12mm thick so very business friendly, as well as right at home with a T-shirt.
Twinlock crown and 100m water resistant and presented on the Day-Dates speciality 3 link “President” bracelet with a concealed clasp.
A point of note on the modern precious metal Rolex bracelets - the infamous “stretch” is now a thing of the past as ceramic sleeves are used to prevent wear and tear to the links.
The movement is Rolex calibre 3255 which packs in 70 hours of power reserve as well as a day and date mechanism, just as it says on the tin.
This is a knockout variant of a flagship model.