Basketball player Ben Simmons spotted wearing a Rolex

Ben Simmons has never been shy about his taste in fine watches, and his latest sighting confirms a clear preference for horological royalty. The NBA star was spotted with a Rolex Day-Date 40 Ref. 228398TBR on his wrist — one of the most visually commanding references in the entire Rolex catalogue, combining an 18ct yellow gold Oyster case with a bezel set entirely in baguette-cut diamonds.

The 228398TBR is built around the Calibre 3255, Rolex's proprietary self-winding movement introduced alongside the 40mm Day-Date generation in 2015. The movement beats at 28,800 vph, offers approximately 70 hours of power reserve, and incorporates the brand's Chronergy escapement — a parachrom hairspring system that delivers roughly 15 percent greater energy efficiency than conventional lever escapements. The 40mm yellow gold case carries the Oyster architecture with a fluted caseback and President bracelet, the latter exclusive to Day-Date models since its debut in 1956.

The Day-Date's collector significance is well established. Introduced in 1956 as the first wristwatch to display both the date and the full day of the week spelled out in full, it earned the informal title 'President's watch' following its association with Dwight D. Eisenhower. The diamond-set 228398TBR variant represents the jewellery tier of that legacy — a reference purchased not merely as a timepiece but as a declaration. Among NBA players, the Day-Date 40 in yellow gold has achieved something close to uniform currency, appearing on the wrists of athletes from LeBron James to Kevin Durant.

Simmons, who plays for the Brooklyn Nets and has long been a fixture on best-dressed lists within the league, wears the piece in a manner consistent with his broader style profile: confident, deliberate, unambiguous. The yellow gold and diamond configuration aligns with a wider trend among professional athletes favoring the bolder, more ornate expressions of classic Swiss dress watches.

On the market, the 228398TBR commands significant premiums over its already substantial retail price. Grey-market demand for diamond-bezelled Day-Date 40 references in yellow gold remains strong, driven by persistent supply constraints at authorised dealers and consistent celebrity visibility keeping the reference in public conversation.