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rapperSpotted April 2023

Rapper Drake spotted wearing a Rolex

rapper Drake spotted wearing a Rolex 228396TBR
Who & what: Platinum Rolex Day-Date 40 Ice Blue Roman Dial Diamond Bezel Ref. 228396TBR-0004

Courtside at a Toronto Raptors versus Los Angeles Lakers matchup, Drake was photographed on his wrist the Rolex Day-Date 40 in platinum, reference 228396TBR-0004 — a watch that commands attention even in a room full of expensive timepieces. The setting: a basketball arena. The watch: arguably the most prestigious production Rolex money can buy.

The Day-Date 40 ref. 228396TBR is crafted entirely in 950 platinum, a material Rolex reserves exclusively for this model within the Day-Date family. The 40mm case houses the calibre 3255, Rolex's in-house movement featuring a Chronergy escapement, 70-hour power reserve, and a Parachrom hairspring — one of the most robust and accurate movements in Swiss watchmaking. The dial on this specific configuration is an ice blue lacquer finish with Roman numerals and a quadrant motif, a restrained yet legible execution that contrasts elegantly with the metal's cool grey tone. The President bracelet, an icon since 1956 and exclusive to the Day-Date, completes the package in matching platinum.

What sets the 228396TBR apart from its already elevated siblings is the bezel: 40 trapezoid-cut diamonds, factory-set by Rolex's in-house gem-setting atelier. These are not aftermarket modifications — they originate from Geneva, and that provenance matters enormously to collectors. The trapezoid cut is rarer in watch bezels than the more common baguette or brilliant configurations, giving this reference a distinct visual weight that reads clearly at a distance.

Drake has long been one of hip-hop's most documented watch collectors, with a collection spanning Patek Philippe, Richard Mille, and rare Rolex configurations. His affinity for the Day-Date is consistent with his aesthetic — maximalist in material, conservative in form. Choosing to wear the 228396TBR-0004 courtside, rather than in a music video or red carpet setting, signals genuine attachment to the piece rather than performative display.

At retail, the Rolex Day-Date 40 ref. 228396TBR-0004 carries a list price in the $120,000 range, but platinum Day-Dates with diamond bezels rarely appear at official dealers. On the secondary market, examples have been trading well above $180,000 USD, reflecting both platinum's intrinsic value and the sustained global demand for Rolex's flagship dress watch.

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