Head-to-Head Comparison

Updated September 5, 2026

Rolex Day-Date 18238 (18k yellow gold, blue diamond dial) vs Tissot Le Locle Powermatic 80

Rolex's timepiece meets Tissot's dress watch

Quick Verdict

The Tissot Le Locle Powermatic 80 ($500–$1,000) delivers ETA-Based Automatic technology in the tier below the Rolex Day-Date 18238 (18k yellow gold, blue diamond dial) ($25,000+). The Le Locle Powermatic 80 measures 39.3mm and is rated 30m (3 ATM). The Day-Date 18238 (18k yellow gold, blue diamond dial) justifies its premium with Swiss Made heritage and Automatic, Rolex Calibre 3155. Both represent excellent choices in the luxury watch category.

RolexDay-Date 18238 (18k yellow gold, blue diamond dial)$25,000+ Check price TissotLe Locle Powermatic 80$500–$1,000 Check price

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Rolex

Day-Date 18238 (18k yellow gold, blue diamond dial)

$25,000+

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Tissot

Le Locle Powermatic 80

$500–$1,000

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Specifications Compared

Feature	Rolex Day-Date 18238 (18k yellow gold, blue diamond dial)	Tissot Le Locle Powermatic 80
Price	$25,000+	$500–$1,000
Case Size	36mm	39.3mm
Movement	Automatic, Rolex Calibre 3155	Powermatic 80.111
Caliber Type	Rolex 3155, in-house automatic, chronometer	ETA-Based Automatic
Power Reserve	About 48 hours	80 Hours
Water Resistance	100m (10 ATM)	30m (3 ATM)
Crystal	Sapphire Crystal, Cyclops	Sapphire Crystal
Case Material	18k yellow gold	Stainless Steel
Origin	Swiss Made	Swiss Made (Swatch Group)

Category-by-Category Analysis

🎨

Design & Aesthetics

Edge: Draw

Rolex's design language vs Tissot's approach

The Rolex Day-Date 18238 (18k yellow gold, blue diamond dial) features a 18k yellow gold case at 36mm with Sapphire Crystal, Cyclops protection. The Tissot Le Locle Powermatic 80 offers Stainless Steel construction at 39.3mm with Sapphire Crystal. Both represent their brand's distinct design philosophy and heritage.

⚙️

Movement & Performance

Edge: Tissot

Automatic, Rolex Calibre 3155 vs Powermatic 80.111

The Day-Date 18238 (18k yellow gold, blue diamond dial) runs the Automatic, Rolex Calibre 3155 (Rolex 3155, in-house automatic, chronometer, About 48 hours power reserve) at standard frequency. The Le Locle Powermatic 80 uses the Powermatic 80.111 (ETA-Based Automatic, 80 Hours reserve) at 21,600 vph (3 Hz). The Le Locle Powermatic 80 offers a longer power reserve.

📏

Wearability & Fit

Edge: Rolex

36mm vs 39.3mm — different wrist presence

At 36mm, the Day-Date 18238 (18k yellow gold, blue diamond dial) wears more compactly on smaller wrists compared to the Le Locle Powermatic 80 at 39.3mm. Water resistance differs: 100m (10 ATM) vs 30m (3 ATM).

💰

Value & Cost of Ownership

Edge: Tissot

Tissot sits in the lower tier

The Rolex Day-Date 18238 (18k yellow gold, blue diamond dial) sits at $25,000+ and the Tissot Le Locle Powermatic 80 at $500–$1,000. On the specs that outlast any price: the Day-Date 18238 (18k yellow gold, blue diamond dial) uses Sapphire Crystal, Cyclops with About 48 hours, against Sapphire Crystal and 80 Hours on the Le Locle Powermatic 80. Service intervals are typically 5-7 years for both.

💧

Water Resistance

Edge: Rolex

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

The Day-Date 18238 (18k yellow gold, blue diamond dial) is rated to 100m (10 ATM) while the Le Locle Powermatic 80 handles 30m (3 ATM). The Day-Date 18238 (18k yellow gold, blue diamond dial) is better suited for water activities.

Our Verdict

Rolex

Day-Date 18238 (18k yellow gold, blue diamond dial)

Choose the Rolex Day-Date 18238 (18k yellow gold, blue diamond dial) if you prioritize Rolex 3155, in-house automatic, chronometer engineering, Swiss Made craftsmanship, and 100m (10 ATM) water resistance. At $25,000+, it delivers Automatic, Rolex Calibre 3155 with About 48 hours power reserve.

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Tissot

Le Locle Powermatic 80

Choose the Tissot Le Locle Powermatic 80 if you value ETA-Based Automatic technology, Swiss Made (Swatch Group) heritage, and 39.3mm proportions. At $500–$1,000, the Powermatic 80.111 with 80 Hours power reserve makes it a compelling choice.

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The Bottom Line

The Rolex Day-Date 18238 (18k yellow gold, blue diamond dial) and Tissot Le Locle Powermatic 80 represent two distinct approaches to fine watchmaking — the Rolex bringing Swiss Made tradition while Tissot delivers Swiss Made (Swatch Group) engineering.

Frequently Asked Questions

For water, the Rolex Day-Date 18238 (18k yellow gold, blue diamond 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 Tissot Le Locle Powermatic 80 sits a band lower ($500–$1,000 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 Tissot Le Locle Powermatic 80 offers better upfront value, sitting a tier lower at $500–$1,000. However, the Rolex Day-Date 18238 (18k yellow gold, blue diamond dial) may justify its premium with superior finishing, heritage, or resale value.

Both are suitable for daily wear. The Day-Date 18238 (18k yellow gold, blue diamond dial) at 36mm with 100m (10 ATM) water resistance handles everyday situations. The Le Locle Powermatic 80 at 39.3mm with 30m (3 ATM) is similarly capable. The Day-Date 18238 (18k yellow gold, blue diamond dial) uses Sapphire Crystal, Cyclops while the Le Locle Powermatic 80 uses Sapphire Crystal.

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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.