What Watch Does Warren Buffett Wear? His Rolex Day-Date Explained

Featured image: EMore98, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Warren Buffett is widely reported to wear a yellow gold Rolex Day-Date 36, the model nicknamed the “President,” with a silver dial and fluted bezel. Photos suggest an older, sapphire-crystal reference such as the 18038 or the later 18238, though Buffett has never published the exact reference number.

The watch: Rolex Day-Date “President”

The Day-Date launched in 1956 and was the first wristwatch to show both the full day name and the date in windows on the dial. Rolex has only ever made it in precious metals: yellow, white and Everose gold, and platinum. That is why it picked up the “President” label, and why it has long been a symbol of success.

Buffett’s watch is most often photographed at Berkshire Hathaway annual meetings and in interviews. Judging by the lug shape, dial and crystal, enthusiasts generally place it in the Day-Date 18-series. The reference 18038 was introduced in 1977 and the 18238 followed it, produced from 1988 to 2000 and fitted with the caliber 3155, which lets you adjust the hour hand independently. Both are 36mm yellow gold watches, and Bob’s Watches reasons from photos that his has a sapphire crystal, which rules out the older 1803 series. Because the owner has never confirmed the reference, treat any specific number as an informed guess.

Spec	Details
Watch	Rolex Day-Date 36 (likely ref. 18038 or 18238)
Case size	36mm
Material	18k yellow gold, fluted bezel, President bracelet
Crystal	Sapphire
Movement	Self-winding mechanical with day and date (caliber 3155 in the 18238; sources differ on the 18038’s caliber)
Water resistance	About 100 meters for the 18038 per one price database; vintage seals should be checked before getting a Day-Date wet
Approximate price	Roughly $16,000 to $25,000 pre-owned for these references; a new yellow gold Day-Date 36 is around $43,700

Conflicting reports: Daytona and Casio

Not every source agrees on what he wears. A 2019 Centurion Jewelry roundup of finance leaders’ watches lists a gold Rolex Daytona for Buffett, priced at about $27,943, while the Day-Date is far better documented elsewhere and is what Bob’s Watches and others describe. We treat the Daytona as a probable mix-up. RubberB’s blog also passes along an unconfirmed rumor that he has been spotted in a Casio Duro, the same watch associated with Bill Gates. That rumor is unsourced, and we would not rely on it.

Why it suits him

Bob’s Watches describes him as a one-watch man with no Rolex collection, which matches the pattern. Buffett is famous for frugal habits: the same Omaha house he bought in 1958, simple food and old-fashioned routines. A Rolex Day-Date looks like an odd fit at first glance. But the watch fits his pattern of buying something durable and keeping it for decades. A mechanical gold Rolex from the 1980s or 1990s can run for generations with regular servicing, and it holds its value far better than most purchases.

The watch is also understated for what it is. A 36mm case is small by today’s standards, so it sits close to the wrist and under a shirt cuff. That is a very “old money” look, and a very different one from the oversized, diamond-set watches many of the world’s richest people choose.

Is Buffett a watch collector?

There is no sign that he is. Unlike some billionaires, he has no public collection and does not talk about watches in his shareholder letters or interviews. The Day-Date is the one watch consistently tied to him. Some lists mention other brands, but we could not find a reliable, sourced report of a second watch he wears regularly, so we will not guess.

Where Buffett is now

As of October 2026, Buffett, now 96, remains chairman of Berkshire Hathaway. Greg Abel succeeded him as CEO at the start of 2026, following the handover Buffett announced in 2025. His wardrobe and accessories have stayed as simple as ever.

Affordable alternatives to the Day-Date look

You do not need five figures to get the same idea: a clean, round, gold-tone dress watch with a date or day-date window. A few ways to approach it:

• Seiko Presage or Seiko 5 dress models with day-date: automatic movements, gold-tone cases and sunburst or silver dials from roughly $200 to $500.
• Orient Bambino and Orient Star: classic domed dress styling with automatic movements, about $150 to $450.
• Citizen and Seiko gold-tone quartz day-date watches: low cost and low maintenance, roughly $100 to $250.

For more options in this style, see our guide to the best dress watches under $500, or browse homage watches if you like the look of famous designs at a fraction of the cost. For another billionaire with very different taste, see what watch Bill Gates wears and the Casio Duro story.

FAQ

What watch does Warren Buffett wear?

A yellow gold Rolex Day-Date 36 “President” with a silver dial and fluted bezel, most likely an 18038 or 18238 reference.

How much is Warren Buffett’s watch worth?

Comparable yellow gold Day-Dates of this era typically sell for roughly $16,000 to $25,000, depending on reference, condition and whether box and papers are included. A new yellow gold Day-Date 36 costs around $43,700. His exact watch has not been appraised publicly.

Does Warren Buffett wear a Casio?

We could not find a reliable source for that. The watch consistently linked to him is the Rolex Day-Date.

Why is the Day-Date called the President?

The nickname comes from the three-link President bracelet introduced with the watch and from its association with leaders and executives. Rolex later adopted the name for that bracelet style.

Sources

• Bob’s Watches: Warren Buffett’s watch collection
• Centurion Jewelry: Top global financial power brokers prefer inexpensive, understated watches
• Grailr: Rolex Day-Date guide
• Loupe: Rolex Day-Date 18038
• RubberB: Warren Buffett Rolex, the Day-Date President explained
• PBS NewsHour: Buffett to remain chairman after Greg Abel takes over as CEO