Watch Paparazzi

Artist Alec Monopoly spotted wearing Rolex

Alec Monopoly was recently photographed wearing a discontinued Rolex Day-Date II reference 218238 in 18k yellow gold — a watch that quietly disappeared from Rolex catalogues in 2015 when the brand consolidated its Day-Date lineup around the 40mm Day-Date 40 series.

The Day-Date II ref. 218238 was introduced in 2008 as Rolex's response to the industry-wide appetite for larger case diameters. At 41mm — one millimetre wider than its successor, the Day-Date 40 — it occupies a distinct position in the Day-Date chronology. This example carries a fluted bezel in 18k yellow gold, a detail that traces its lineage back to the very first Day-Date of 1956, originally designed to showcase Rolex's in-house gold rolling capabilities. Powering the watch is the Rolex calibre 3156, a self-winding movement with a 48-hour power reserve, Parachrom hairspring, and Paraflex shock absorbers — robust, certified chronometer-grade engineering beneath a decidedly dressy exterior.

The dial is what makes this particular reference stand out. The black wave pattern — sometimes catalogued as a "mosaic" or textured wave dial — is among the more unusual configurations Rolex offered on the 218238. Combined with yellow gold Arabic numerals and matching gold hands, the overall effect is bold without crossing into ostentation, at least by Rolex Day-Date standards. Collectors who focus on dial variants have long noted the scarcity of these wave dials in yellow gold configurations, and finding one in unworn condition commands a meaningful premium on the secondary market.

Alec Monopoly, the pseudonymous Los Angeles-born artist whose Monopoly Man graffiti has appeared on Basquiat canvases, luxury yachts, and fashion collaborations, has built a brand on the intersection of street culture and high-end commerce. A discontinued Rolex in solid gold with an unconventional dial is precisely the kind of object that fits his visual vocabulary — recognisably prestigious, but with enough specificity to signal real knowledge.

The Rolex Day-Date II 218238 carried a retail price of approximately $37,550 at discontinuation. On today's grey market, well-preserved examples with desirable dials — particularly the black wave — typically trade above that figure, reflecting both the appeal of discontinued references and the enduring demand for solid gold Day-Dates.