Watch Paparazzi

Entrepreneur Giancarlo Giammetti spotted wearing Rolex

Giancarlo Giammetti was recently photographed wearing a yellow gold Rolex Day-Date ref. 118138 fitted with a striking green emerald dial and a matching alligator leather strap — a combination that speaks directly to his cultivated, fashion-forward sensibility. The sighting is notable not only for the wearer's stature but for the watch itself, which Rolex has since discontinued.

The Rolex Day-Date ref. 118138 belongs to the 36mm generation of the Day-Date line, produced in 18-karat yellow gold. Unlike the flagship configuration featuring the President bracelet, the 118138 was specified with an alligator strap and a tang or folding clasp, giving it a more dressed, almost understated character relative to its peers. The case diameter of 36mm sits at the traditional size of the Day-Date before Rolex introduced the larger 40mm Day-Date 40 in 2015. The ref. 118138 houses the Rolex Calibre 3155, a self-winding movement with 31 jewels, a paramagnetic blue Parachrom hairspring, and a power reserve of approximately 48 hours — a robust and well-regarded manufacture movement.

From a collector standpoint, the Day-Date ref. 118138 occupies an interesting niche. Its discontinuation has elevated its desirability among enthusiasts who favor the 36mm proportions and the tactile pleasure of an alligator strap over the more ubiquitous President bracelet. The green emerald dial configuration adds a further layer of rarity. Green dials across all Rolex references have seen sustained collector appetite since the early 2020s, and a deep, saturated emerald tone on yellow gold is among the most visually arresting combinations the manufacture ever produced.

Giancarlo Giammetti's watch choice is entirely consistent with his biography. As co-founder and longtime creative partner of Valentino Garavani, Giammetti has spent decades at the intersection of couture, luxury, and international society. A yellow gold Day-Date is practically the canonical timepiece of that world — worn by presidents, industrialists, and cultural figures since the model's introduction in 1956. Giammetti's emerald-dialed example, however, suggests a collector's eye rather than mere convention.

On the secondary market, discontinued Day-Date 36 references in yellow gold with desirable dials have been trading above their original retail prices. The ref. 118138 with an emerald dial typically surfaces in the range of $18,000 to $24,000 depending on condition, box, and papers — a premium reflecting both the discontinued status and the ongoing demand for green-dialed Rolex sports and dress references alike.