Watch Paparazzi

Footballer Raheem Sterling spotted wearing Rolex

Raheem Sterling, then starring on the wing for Manchester City, was photographed wearing a Rolex Datejust 36 in 18k yellow gold, reference 116238, with a black dial and the brand's signature five-piece Jubilee bracelet — a clean, confident choice from one of English football's most recognisable figures.

The Datejust 36 ref. 116238 is constructed entirely in 18k yellow gold, from the 36mm Oyster case to the Jubilee bracelet, which Rolex introduced alongside the original Datejust in 1945 to mark the brand's 40th anniversary. Inside sits the calibre 3135, Rolex's workhorse self-winding movement featuring a paramagnetic blue Parachrom hairspring, Paraflex shock absorption, and a power reserve of approximately 48 hours. The movement is chronometer-certified by COSC, rated to +2/-2 seconds per day. The cyclops lens over the date aperture at 3 o'clock — another Datejust hallmark since 1953 — magnifies the date 2.5 times for instant legibility.

The black dial on ref. 116238 is one of the more collector-friendly configurations in the Datejust 36 catalogue. Against the warm tone of yellow gold, it delivers strong contrast and a dressy formality that transitions from pitch-side appearances to formal engagements without effort. The Jubilee bracelet, with its five-piece links, remains one of Rolex's most technically refined bracelets, and in solid 18k gold it carries a substantial, satisfying weight on the wrist.

Sterling has built a reputation as a measured dresser off the pitch, gravitating toward pieces that speak quietly but carry real substance. The Datejust 36 in yellow gold is precisely that kind of watch — an icon that doesn't need to announce itself, worn by a footballer who has equally learned to let his game do the talking.

On the market, the Rolex Datejust 36 ref. 116238 carries an official retail price in the region of $17,500 to $19,000 USD depending on market. Note that this reference has been succeeded by the ref. 126238 in Rolex's current lineup, which means 116238 examples are now trading in the pre-owned and grey markets, typically fetching between $14,000 and $17,000 USD depending on condition, box, and papers — a relatively accessible entry point for a solid-gold Rolex classic.