Actor Joey Essex spotted wearing a Rolex

Joey Essex, the Essex-born reality TV star who parlayed his 'TOWIE' fame into a broader entertainment career, was recently spotted on the wrist with one of Rolex's most statement-forward references: the Day-Date II in 18k Everose gold with a black baguette diamond dial, reference 218235.

The Rolex Day-Date II ref. 218235 was introduced in 2008 as a larger-proportioned successor to the original 1956 Day-Date, stretching to 41mm in diameter compared to the classic 36mm case. The case and bracelet are crafted entirely in Rolex's proprietary 18k Everose gold — an alloy developed by the brand that resists fading over time, a genuine technical distinction rather than a marketing claim. The movement inside is the calibre 3156, a self-winding manufacture movement with a 48-hour power reserve, Parachrom hairspring, and bidirectional perpetual rotor, officially certified as a chronometer by COSC.

What elevates this particular example well above a standard Day-Date II is the black baguette diamond dial. Baguette-cut stones — rectangular gems that must be individually shaped and set in perfect alignment — are among the most demanding in watchmaking. Rolex's in-house gem-setting atelier selects and places each stone by hand, and the end result is a dial that functions more as jewellery than an instrument. It is a configuration that pushes this reference firmly into the 'jewellery watch' category for serious collectors, even if it remains entirely legible.

Joey Essex has never been shy about his enthusiasm for luxury goods, and the Day-Date II sits naturally alongside his public persona — aspirational, unsubtle, and unapologetically expensive. The Day-Date's historical association with heads of state and business leaders gives it a cultural weight that extends well beyond the entertainment world, which likely adds to its appeal for a celebrity of his profile.

The Rolex Day-Date II ref. 218235 in Everose gold carries a UK retail price of approximately £31,500, though diamond-dial configurations can push the figure higher depending on specification. On the grey market, strong demand for rose gold Day-Date references means pricing holds firm above retail, with comparable examples regularly trading between $42,000 and $52,000 depending on dial configuration and condition.