Watch Paparazzi

Footballer David Beckham spotted wearing Rolex

David Beckham celebrated his birthday in characteristic style, and the wrist told the story clearly: an 18K Everose Gold Rolex Day-Date 40 in reference 228345RBR, olive dial, diamond bezel, fully factory-configured. For a man who has worn everything from Royal Oaks to Patek Philippes, the choice of this particular Day-Date signals a deliberate lean into Rolex's most opulent in-house offering.

The Day-Date 40 was introduced in 2015 as a larger reworking of the historic Day-Date 36, first launched in 1956 as the world's first wristwatch to display the day of the week spelled out in full. Reference 228345RBR sits at the pinnacle of the current Day-Date 40 lineup. The case measures 40mm in Everose gold — Rolex's proprietary 18K rose gold alloy, which incorporates platinum to stabilize color over time and is produced exclusively at the brand's Bienne foundry. The bezel is set with 48 brilliant-cut diamonds totaling approximately 1.78 carats, each stone selected and set by Rolex's in-house gem laboratory in Geneva. The olive sunray dial is one of the more restrained choices within a lineup that extends to meteorite and mother-of-pearl, lending the watch an understated richness rather than outright flash.

Powering the 228345RBR is calibre 3255, Rolex's current-generation manufacture movement featuring a Chronergy escapement — a nickel-phosphorus lever and escape wheel system that improves efficiency by roughly 15 percent over previous calibres. It offers a 70-hour power reserve, beats at 28,800 vph, and carries a Superlative Chronometer certification, meaning each watch is tested to ±2 seconds per day accuracy post-casing.

Beckham's relationship with fine watchmaking is well established. He has appeared publicly in references spanning Rolex's Daytona and GMT-Master families, as well as pieces from AP and Patek Philippe. The Day-Date has historically functioned as what collectors call a "President's watch" — a status identifier with genuine horological substance beneath the diamonds.

At retail, the 228345RBR carries a list price of approximately $55,380 USD. On the secondary market, strong collector demand for diamond-set Day-Date 40 references in Everose gold has pushed grey-market valuations to roughly $118,000 — more than double retail — reflecting both restricted availability and sustained appetite for Rolex's flagship dress watch in precious metal configurations.