Cricketer Krunal Pandya spotted wearing a Rolex

Krunal Pandya, the Mumbai Indians and India international all-rounder, was recently photographed wearing a Rolex Day-Date 40 in Everose gold, the rose-gold alloy proprietary to Rolex, fitted on a President bracelet and featuring what appears to be an olive-green sunray dial. The sighting adds another chapter to cricket's long and well-documented romance with the Geneva manufacture's crown jewel.

First unveiled in 1956, the Day-Date was the first wristwatch to display both the date and the day of the week spelled out in full, and the first to be offered exclusively in precious metals. The 40 mm case of the modern ref. 228235 — introduced in 2015 when Rolex enlarged the classic 36 mm footprint — houses the in-house calibre 3255, a movement that represents a near-complete redesign: 14 patents, a Chronergy escapement delivering roughly 15 percent greater energy efficiency, and a 70-hour power reserve. The fluted bezel, a Rolex hallmark since the early Day-Date references, is executed in 18 ct Everose gold, an alloy Rolex developed in-house to resist fading over decades.

The olive-green dial is among the most coveted colour variants in the 228235 lineup. Its sunburst finish catches light differently at every angle, and the applied Roman numeral hour markers in gold add a classical gravitas that distinguishes it from sportier Rolex references. The President bracelet — three semi-circular links with concealed clasp — remains one of the most recognisable bracelets in horology, and in Everose it develops a warm patina that deepens with wear.

Krunal Pandya is no stranger to considered luxury. At 32, the left-arm spinner and hard-hitting lower-order bat has built a profile that extends well beyond cricket pitches, with a visible interest in high-end fashion and watches. Wearing the Day-Date 40 positions him within a lineage of world leaders, athletes, and entertainers who have made this reference synonymous with achievement — Rolex has never sold the Day-Date through conventional advertising alone; its wearers do the work.

At a retail price of approximately $34,000 USD, the 228235 in Everose with an olive dial commands a premium on the secondary market, where strong collector demand for green-dialled Rolex pieces — a trend that has persisted since the 'Hulk' and 'Kermit' submariner boom — keeps grey-market values elevated. For a watch that functions equally as a boardroom accessory and a red-carpet statement, few references justify the spend as convincingly.