Head-to-Head Comparison

Updated September 5, 2026

Breguet Classique 7137 Power Reserve Moonphase (18k yellow gold) vs Rolex Datejust 36 126234 (steel, white gold fluted bezel, black dial)

Breguet's dress watch meets Rolex's timepiece

Quick Verdict

The Rolex Datejust 36 126234 (steel, white gold fluted bezel, black dial) ($10,000–$25,000) delivers Rolex 3235, Superlative Chronometer technology in the tier below the Breguet Classique 7137 Power Reserve Moonphase (18k yellow gold) ($25,000+). The Datejust 36 126234 (steel, white gold fluted bezel, black dial) measures 36mm and is rated 100m (10 ATM). The Classique 7137 Power Reserve Moonphase (18k yellow gold) justifies its premium with Swiss Made heritage and Automatic, Breguet Calibre 502.3 QSE1 (ultra-thin, off-centre rotor). Both represent excellent choices in the luxury watch category.

BreguetClassique 7137 Power Reserve Moonphase (18k yellow gold)$25,000+ Check price RolexDatejust 36 126234 (steel, white gold fluted bezel, black dial)$10,000–$25,000 Check price

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Breguet

Classique 7137 Power Reserve Moonphase (18k yellow gold)

$25,000+

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Rolex

Datejust 36 126234 (steel, white gold fluted bezel, black dial)

$10,000–$25,000

Check Price Full Review

Specifications Compared

Feature	Breguet Classique 7137 Power Reserve Moonphase (18k yellow gold)	Rolex Datejust 36 126234 (steel, white gold fluted bezel, black dial)
Price	$25,000+	$10,000–$25,000
Case Size	39mm	36mm
Movement	Automatic, Breguet Calibre 502.3 QSE1 (ultra-thin, off-centre rotor)	Automatic, Rolex calibre 3235, quickset date
Caliber Type	Breguet 502.3 QSE1, automatic, silicon escapement	Rolex 3235, Superlative Chronometer
Power Reserve	About 45 hours, with indicator	About 70 hours
Water Resistance	30m (3 ATM)	100m (10 ATM)
Crystal	Sapphire Crystal, sapphire caseback	Sapphire Crystal, Cyclops
Case Material	18k yellow gold, fluted caseband	Oystersteel with 18k white gold fluted bezel (white Rolesor)
Origin	Swiss Made	Swiss Made

Category-by-Category Analysis

🎨

Design & Aesthetics

Edge: Draw

Breguet's design language vs Rolex's approach

The Breguet Classique 7137 Power Reserve Moonphase (18k yellow gold) features a 18k yellow gold, fluted caseband case at 39mm with Sapphire Crystal, sapphire caseback protection. The Rolex Datejust 36 126234 (steel, white gold fluted bezel, black dial) offers Oystersteel with 18k white gold fluted bezel (white Rolesor) construction at 36mm with Sapphire Crystal, Cyclops. Both represent their brand's distinct design philosophy and heritage.

⚙️

Movement & Performance

Edge: Rolex

Automatic, Breguet Calibre 502.3 QSE1 (ultra-thin, off-centre rotor) vs Automatic, Rolex calibre 3235, quickset date

The Classique 7137 Power Reserve Moonphase (18k yellow gold) runs the Automatic, Breguet Calibre 502.3 QSE1 (ultra-thin, off-centre rotor) (Breguet 502.3 QSE1, automatic, silicon escapement, About 45 hours, with indicator power reserve) at standard frequency. The Datejust 36 126234 (steel, white gold fluted bezel, black dial) uses the Automatic, Rolex calibre 3235, quickset date (Rolex 3235, Superlative Chronometer, About 70 hours reserve) at standard. The Datejust 36 126234 (steel, white gold fluted bezel, black dial) offers a longer power reserve.

📏

Wearability & Fit

Edge: Rolex

39mm vs 36mm — different wrist presence

At 39mm, the Classique 7137 Power Reserve Moonphase (18k yellow gold) has a bolder wrist presence compared to the Datejust 36 126234 (steel, white gold fluted bezel, black dial) at 36mm. Water resistance differs: 30m (3 ATM) vs 100m (10 ATM).

💰

Value & Cost of Ownership

Edge: Rolex

Rolex sits in the lower tier

The Breguet Classique 7137 Power Reserve Moonphase (18k yellow gold) sits at $25,000+ and the Rolex Datejust 36 126234 (steel, white gold fluted bezel, black dial) at $10,000–$25,000. On the specs that outlast any price: the Classique 7137 Power Reserve Moonphase (18k yellow gold) uses Sapphire Crystal, sapphire caseback with About 45 hours, with indicator, against Sapphire Crystal, Cyclops and About 70 hours on the Datejust 36 126234 (steel, white gold fluted bezel, black dial). Service intervals are typically 5-7 years for both.

💧

Water Resistance

Edge: Rolex

30m (3 ATM) vs 100m (10 ATM)

The Classique 7137 Power Reserve Moonphase (18k yellow gold) is rated to 30m (3 ATM) while the Datejust 36 126234 (steel, white gold fluted bezel, black dial) handles 100m (10 ATM). The Datejust 36 126234 (steel, white gold fluted bezel, black dial) offers superior water resistance.

Our Verdict

Breguet

Classique 7137 Power Reserve Moonphase (18k yellow gold)

Choose the Breguet Classique 7137 Power Reserve Moonphase (18k yellow gold) if you prioritize Breguet 502.3 QSE1, automatic, silicon escapement engineering, Swiss Made craftsmanship, and 30m (3 ATM) water resistance. At $25,000+, it delivers Automatic, Breguet Calibre 502.3 QSE1 (ultra-thin, off-centre rotor) with About 45 hours, with indicator power reserve.

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Rolex

Datejust 36 126234 (steel, white gold fluted bezel, black dial)

Choose the Rolex Datejust 36 126234 (steel, white gold fluted bezel, black dial) if you value Rolex 3235, Superlative Chronometer technology, Swiss Made heritage, and 36mm proportions. At $10,000–$25,000, the Automatic, Rolex calibre 3235, quickset date with About 70 hours power reserve makes it a compelling choice.

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The Bottom Line

The Breguet Classique 7137 Power Reserve Moonphase (18k yellow gold) and Rolex Datejust 36 126234 (steel, white gold fluted bezel, black dial) represent two distinct approaches to fine watchmaking — the Breguet bringing Swiss Made tradition while Rolex delivers Swiss Made engineering.

Frequently Asked Questions

For water, the Rolex Datejust 36 126234 (steel, white gold fluted bezel, black dial) is rated 100 m against 30 m, which is the difference between swimming and diving on one side and splashes on the other. On price, the Rolex Datejust 36 126234 (steel, white gold fluted bezel, black dial) sits a band lower ($10,000–$25,000 against $25,000+), so it is the cheaper way into the category. Neither is better at everything; the spec table above shows movement, case size, water resistance and crystal side by side so you can weigh what matters to you. We do not test units, so this is the makers' data, not a bench result.

The Rolex Datejust 36 126234 (steel, white gold fluted bezel, black dial) offers better upfront value, sitting a tier lower at $10,000–$25,000. However, the Breguet Classique 7137 Power Reserve Moonphase (18k yellow gold) may justify its premium with superior finishing, heritage, or resale value.

Both are suitable for daily wear. The Classique 7137 Power Reserve Moonphase (18k yellow gold) at 39mm with 30m (3 ATM) water resistance handles everyday situations. The Datejust 36 126234 (steel, white gold fluted bezel, black dial) at 36mm with 100m (10 ATM) is similarly capable. The Classique 7137 Power Reserve Moonphase (18k yellow gold) uses Sapphire Crystal, sapphire caseback while the Datejust 36 126234 (steel, white gold fluted bezel, black dial) uses Sapphire Crystal, Cyclops.

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How This Page Was Made

Our comparisons are generated from a hand-maintained specification database and reviewed under our editorial standards. We use AI tools to assemble pages from that data. We don’t invent specs: every number traces back to the database, and when we correct an entry, the fix is applied site-wide. As an Amazon Associate, The Horologist earns from qualifying purchases.