This replica Day-Date 116610 represents the previous-generation presidential watch in 36mm with a white dial and stick hour markers. The 116610 reference predates the current 128238 series, using the older case construction with slightly narrower lugs and a different crown guard profile. Rolex produced this reference for years before transitioning to the updated 1282xx platform, and the older geometry gives the watch a noticeably different wrist presence despite sharing the same 36mm diameter.

Technical Overview

• Case diameter: 36mm
• Dial: white with stick hour markers
• Day display: fully spelled at 12 o’clock
• Date display: Cyclops-magnified window at 3 o’clock
• Crystal: sapphire
• Bracelet: President three-piece link
• Movement: automatic day-date
• Reference generation: previous (pre-128238)

The white dial with stick markers represents the most minimal configuration available on the Day-Date. Without Roman numerals, diamonds, or applied indices with heavy surrounds, the face reads open and uncluttered.

Inside the Movement

The 116610 houses an automatic caliber with instantaneous day-date change at midnight. The movement architecture in this generation uses a different mainspring barrel configuration than the newer 32xx-based calibers found in the 128238. Power reserve sits in the standard two-day range. Functionally the day and date operate identically across generations, but the older caliber has a well-documented service history that makes long-term maintenance straightforward. The 128238 white dial in rose gold offers the updated case and movement for anyone comparing generations. Both configurations live in the Day-Date collection as white-dial options targeting different preferences.

What Sets It Apart

Choosing the 116610 over the current 128238 comes down to case geometry preference. The older reference has thinner lugs that curve closer to the wrist, producing a fit that some find more comfortable than the wider, flatter lug profile of the newer series. The white stick dial adds nothing extraneous, making this a Day-Date reduced to its purest form. For someone who values the classic proportions over the latest updates, the previous generation holds genuine appeal. This replica Day-Date 116610 captures that earlier design language in full for comparison against the current lineup.