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Basketball player Ben Simmons spotted wearing Rolex

Spotted in the stands at what appears to be an NBA Summer League or regular-season courtside appearance, Philadelphia 76ers point guard Ben Simmons turned heads not only for his presence but for the Rolex Day-Date 40 ref. 228239 riding his left wrist. The olive green dial catches light with a distinctly rich, sunburst-finished depth that photographs dramatically even at a distance — a hallmark of Rolex's proprietary lacquer dials produced in-house at the Geneva manufacture.

The Day-Date 40 ref. 228239 was launched in 2016 as part of Rolex's celebration of the model's 60th anniversary, originally debuted in 1956 as the world's first wristwatch to display both the date and the full day of the week spelled out. This reference bumped the case diameter from 41 mm down to a cleaner 40 mm, housing the calibre 3255 — Rolex's then-new proprietary movement boasting a Chronergy escapement, 70-hour power reserve, and COSC-certified precision of -2/+2 seconds per day. The fluted bezel, President bracelet, and white gold case are crafted entirely in 18-carat white gold, giving the piece its considerable heft and presence.

Among collectors, the olive green dial 228239 occupies a particularly strong position. The colour sits in rare company alongside meteorite and lacquer dials as a dial that reads differently under every light source — grey-green indoors, vivid army green in sunlight. Grey-market premiums have consistently placed it well above retail since release, a testament to genuine demand rather than speculative flipping.

Simmons, who earned NBA Rookie of the Year honours for the 2017–18 season with the 76ers, has developed a well-documented taste for high-end Swiss watches. The Day-Date is a logical centrepiece for any serious collection — historically worn by heads of state and executives, its nickname 'the President's watch' carries weight that resonates with athletes at the peak of their profession.

At $38,500 USD list price in 18K white gold, the ref. 228239 is rarely available at authorised dealers without significant waitlist time. On the secondary market, comparable examples in unworn condition have been trading between $48,000 and $55,000 USD, reflecting the persistent demand for this anniversary-edition dial variant.