Watch Paparazzi

Footballer Raheem Sterling spotted wearing Rolex

Raheem Sterling was photographed wearing a Rolex Day-Date 40 in 18k Everose gold, the dial finished in a rich olive green with applied rose gold Roman numerals — a combination that sits at the very top of the Day-Date desirability chart. The sighting shows Sterling relaxed and dressed sharply, the rose gold President bracelet clearly visible against his wrist, the fluted bezel catching the light in characteristic Rolex fashion.

The watch is reference 228235, introduced by Rolex in 2015 to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Day-Date. The jump from the 36mm ref. 118235 to the 40mm case was significant — not just aesthetically but mechanically. Rolex simultaneously launched the calibre 3255, a movement featuring the Chronergy escapement, a nickel-phosphorus lever and escape wheel that improves efficiency by roughly 15 percent over its predecessor. Power reserve stands at 70 hours. The Parachrom hairspring and Rolex's patented Paraflex shock absorbers round out a movement that redefined what in-house watchmaking means for the brand.

The Day-Date's collector reputation is unimpeachable. Launched in 1956 as the first watch to display both the date and the full day of the week spelled out, it was also the first wristwatch to be made exclusively in precious metals — gold or platinum, nothing else. That DNA carries through to the 228235: every component, from case to bracelet, is 18k Everose gold, Rolex's proprietary rose gold alloy formulated with a small percentage of platinum to resist fading.

Raheem Sterling has consistently demonstrated a refined watch sensibility beyond the typical footballer flex. The Day-Date 40 in Everose with olive dial is a statement of understated wealth rather than ostentation — the watch is instantly readable to those who know, invisible to those who don't. It suits Sterling's increasingly polished public image.

On the market, the ref. 228235 with olive green dial commands a meaningful premium over retail. Official Rolex retail sits at approximately $40,700 USD, but grey-market demand has pushed transaction prices toward $55,000–$62,000 depending on dial configuration and bracelet. The olive green Roman numeral variant is consistently among the hardest Day-Date 40 configurations to source, making Sterling's choice as sharp as the suit he's wearing it with.