Watch Paparazzi

Entrepreneur Lapo Elkann spotted wearing Rolex

Lapo Elkann was photographed alongside what appears to be the Henri Delaunay Trophy — the UEFA European Championship cup — wearing a vintage Rolex Day-Date in 18-karat yellow gold fitted with one of the most storied dials in the brand's history: the turquoise Stella. The combination of Italian football heritage and an ultra-rare horological artefact on his wrist is entirely on-brand for the Agnelli grandson and serial watch collector.

The Rolex Day-Date reference 1803, produced from the early 1970s, is the likely candidate here. The 36mm Oyster case in yellow gold carries the iconic fluted bezel and is paired with an 18-karat President bracelet — both hallmarks clearly visible in the sighting. The movement within is the Calibre 1556, a self-winding manufacture movement offering day and date display with Rolex's signature instantaneous date jump. The case back is solid, the crown signed, and water resistance rated to 100 metres.

The dial is the centrepiece. During the 1970s, Rolex commissioned the Swiss firm Stella SA to produce a range of vivid lacquered dials in colours including turquoise, coral, green, orange, and meteorite grey. These were not popular at the time of sale — clients preferred more conservative options — meaning production numbers were low. Today, a genuine turquoise Stella dial in good condition transforms a standard Day-Date into a trophy piece. Auction houses have recorded sales north of $150,000 USD for the most desirable examples, and collector demand shows no sign of softening.

Lapo Elkann has long been one of Europe's most visible watch enthusiasts, blending Italian sartorial tradition with irreverent personal style. His choice of a vintage Stella Day-Date over a modern reference speaks to genuine collector sensibility rather than conspicuous consumption. The turquoise dial mirrors the Italian federation blue of his cap — intentional or not, the aesthetic coherence is undeniable.

On the grey market, a yellow gold Day-Date 1803 with an authentic turquoise Stella dial in collector-grade condition currently trades between $90,000 and $160,000 USD depending on provenance, dial condition, and whether original paperwork accompanies the piece. No current retail equivalent exists — Rolex does not offer Stella dials in contemporary production — making surviving examples entirely a secondary-market phenomenon and one of the most compelling arguments for vintage over new.