Watch Paparazzi

Footballer Erling Haaland spotted wearing Rolex

When Erling Haaland arrived at Manchester City, the football world took notice. So did watch enthusiasts — because on his wrist sat one of the most extravagant production watches Rolex manufactures: the Day-Date 40 in platinum, reference 228396TBR, complete with an ice blue dial, baguette-cut diamond hour markers, and a fully diamond-set baguette bezel. The sighting quickly circulated among collector communities, and for good reason.

The Rolex Day-Date 40 ref. 228396TBR is built entirely in 950 platinum — the only metal in which this specific configuration is available. The 40mm case houses the Rolex Calibre 3255, the manufacture's most advanced self-winding movement, offering a 70-hour power reserve, a Chronergy escapement for improved efficiency, and a Paraflex shock absorber system. The ice blue dial is a platinum-exclusive color within the Day-Date lineup, a deliberate brand decision that reinforces the reference's position at the very top of the catalog. The bezel features 40 baguette-cut diamonds totaling approximately 3 carats, while the dial carries 10 further baguette diamonds as hour markers — all set at the Rolex manufacture in Geneva.

From a collector standpoint, the 228396TBR occupies rare air. The Day-Date's history as the so-called "President's watch" — worn by heads of state since its 1956 debut — gives it enduring cultural weight. The platinum baguette variant, however, is less a daily wearer and more a deliberate declaration. It rarely appears on the secondary market, and when it does, grey-market premiums are substantial. List price sits at approximately $115,000, while current market valuations push toward $160,000, reflecting both the scarcity of platinum supply and sustained demand from high-net-worth buyers.

Haaland, still in his early twenties at the time of the sighting, has demonstrated a consistent appetite for serious horology rather than purely decorative pieces. The choice of the 228396TBR is notable — this is not a watch bought for visibility alone; it is a watch that rewards close inspection and signals genuine engagement with the Rolex hierarchy.

For collectors tracking the platinum Day-Date 40 market, authorized dealer waitlists remain long and grey-market inventory tight. The 228396TBR is unlikely to depreciate in the near term, and high-profile sightings like Haaland's only reinforce its status as a benchmark reference in modern Rolex collecting.