Watch Paparazzi

Actor Mark Wahlberg spotted wearing Rolex

Mark Wahlberg was recently spotted wearing what is arguably one of the most opulent wristwatches in active production: the Rolex Day-Date 40 in 950 platinum with a full emerald-set bezel, reference 228396TEM. The sighting adds another extraordinary entry to the actor's well-followed watch rotation and puts a rarely-seen reference under the spotlight.

The Rolex Day-Date 40 ref. 228396TEM is built around a 40 mm case in 950 platinum — a material Rolex reserves exclusively for the Day-Date line, immediately signalling the model's position at the top of the brand's hierarchy. The bezel is set with 36 step-cut emeralds, each selected for colour consistency and clarity, a process that Rolex's Geneva atelier treats with the same rigour applied to its movement finishing. Powering the watch is the in-house Calibre 3255, a 70-hour power reserve movement featuring Rolex's Chronergy escapement, offering a claimed precision of ±2 seconds per day — exceptional for a watch this ornate. The matching platinum President bracelet and the characteristic day and date apertures at 12 and 3 o'clock complete a package that has changed little in format since the Day-Date's 1956 debut, yet advances it technically with every new generation.

Among collectors, the emerald-bezel Day-Date 40 in platinum occupies rare territory. Gemstone-set Rolex references represent a tiny fraction of total production, making them genuinely scarce on both primary and secondary markets. The TEM suffix denotes the emerald bezel configuration, and platinum examples consistently command premiums that reflect both material cost and production complexity. Serious collectors regard these as jewellery-grade acquisitions rather than purely horological ones, though the 3255 movement ensures the watch earns its keep technically.

Mark Wahlberg is no casual watch wearer. The Boston-born actor and entrepreneur has been photographed over the years in high-spec Rolex references, Patek Philippe, and Richard Mille pieces, suggesting a collection curated with genuine intent rather than impulse. The 228396TEM fits the pattern: a watch that communicates taste and substance in equal measure.

At a UK list price of approximately £385,000, the Rolex Day-Date 40 ref. 228396TEM sits at a price point where demand from high-net-worth buyers consistently outstrips supply. Grey-market availability is extremely limited, and when examples do surface, they typically trade at or above retail — a dynamic that reinforces both the watch's desirability and the wisdom of acquiring one through authorised channels when the opportunity arises.