How We Built Our Own Off-Catalogue-Inspired Custom Arabic Day-Date 40

Rolex is the world's number one watch brand, renowned for its groundbreaking innovations and exceptional craftsmanship. Also part of Rolex is their secret stash of off-catalogue watches; pieces that are not part of Rolex’s displayed collection as seen on their website or in their boutiques.

Now, you might ask, how can one see this secret catalogue? Only those of true wealth and elite status are presented with the opportunity to purchase an off-catalogue Rolex watch. Quite frankly, off-catalogue Rolex watches are reserved for the brand’s VIP clients and are offered at a jaw-dropping price. On the secondary market, there are listings of off-catalogue Rolex watches, albeit not a lot, which are valued at a high premium because of their quality and rarity.

Buying an off-catalogue Rolex watch comes with true struggles, but there is a cheaper alternative that allows you to buy an inspired version using a genuine Rolex model. The solution is customisation! Here at Time 4 Diamonds, we have a proven track record of creating custom masterpieces that take inspiration from the factory-set off-catalogue models. This is an idea we unveil in this article, looking at the custom Arabic Day-Date 40 that we have produced, inspired by the off-catalogue piece.

Off-Catalogue Arabic Rolex Day-Date 228236TBR

Arabic Day-Date 228236TBR Ice Blue Dial with Diamond-Set Bezel

Typically, examples of the Crown’s off-catalogue watches feature colourful gem settings, such as the popular Daytona “Rainbow”. Alternatively, they can be released to commemorate something like an anniversary or a certain region of the world. What about a watch that incorporates both gem settings and a special meaning?

That question refers to the Rolex Day-Date 40 reference 228396TBR, which features a sparkling diamond-set bezel and a distinctive ice blue Eastern Arabic dial; a piece so rare that it is only offered to those who live in or visit the Middle East. Due to this, the Arabic 228396TBR is considered a true collector’s item, but it is extremely difficult to even find a model in the secondary market.

It is extremely difficult to obtain an exact valuation of a factory-set Arabic Day-Date reference 228396TBR because, as mentioned, there are very few on the market, and even ones that are listed, you must make a request first to gain a price. Therefore, the model’s estimated value ranges from £100,000 to £150,000, depending on the year, condition and parts.

Our Custom Arabic Rolex Day-Date

Rolex Day-Date 40 Ref 228206 with Custom Arabic Dial & Diamond Bezel on Magazine © Time 4 Diamonds

Now, let’s present our custom-inspired version of the Arabic Day-Date 40 reference 228236TBR, fully created and produced by our in-house team of watchmakers.

Buy Rolex Day-Date 40 Platinum 228206 Custom Dial and Custom Bezel

• ✓Ice Blue/Arabic Script Dial
• ✓Unworn Condition
• ✓Automatic Movement Calibre 3255

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To begin with, we took an authentic and verified 2024 Day-Date 40 reference 228206 in platinum, featuring the elegant Presidential bracelet and smooth bezel. Inside the heavy case is the Crown’s Calibre 3255 movement, which is carefully deconstructed when the customisation process starts. Like the off-catalogue factory-set piece, our custom Arabic Day-Date 40 consists of two main features: the diamond-set bezel and Eastern Arabic dial.

Day-Date 40 228206 Ice Blue Arabic Dial with VS1 G–H Diamond Bezel © Time 4 Diamonds

The bezel features natural, VS1, colours G-H, baguette-cut white diamonds that are all hand-picked by our team of knowledgeable gemologists and placed into the watch by our masterful diamond-setters. Then lastly, the Arabic dial, which perfectly matches the ice blue shade and sunburst effect with the Indo-Arabic numerals (Eastern Arabic Numerals).

Whilst all the details closely reflect the factory-set version, the best part has yet to be mentioned. To acquire this stunning custom Arabic Day-Date 40, you do not need to be one of Time 4 Diamonds’ “VIP clients”; everyone is provided with the same chances and possibilities. Moreover, the custom piece is listed for a fraction of the price of the factory-set model, on sale for £59,995 - a whole lot of watch for the money!