Singer Harry Styles spotted wearing a Rolex

Harry Styles was recently photographed with a classic piece of horological royalty on his wrist: a Rolex Day-Date 40 in 18ct yellow gold, fitted with a champagne dial and the brand's signature fluted bezel. The shot offers a clear view of the Presidential bracelet — Rolex's most prestigious integrated link design, introduced alongside the Day-Date in 1956 and exclusive to that reference to this day.
The Day-Date 40, reference 228238, represents the modern evolution of what Rolex has long called 'The Presidents' Watch.' Measuring 40mm across, it superseded the 36mm Day-Date II in 2015 and now houses the in-house Calibre 3255 — a movement featuring Rolex's proprietary Chronergy escapement, 70-hour power reserve, and a Parachrom hairspring rated to resist magnetic fields and shocks far beyond conventional standards. The champagne dial pairs naturally with the 18ct yellow gold case, creating the kind of monochromatic warmth that has made this configuration a perennial bestseller.
From a collector's standpoint, the yellow gold Day-Date 40 with champagne dial and fluted bezel sits squarely in the 'entry point to Day-Date' tier — if that phrase can even apply to a watch at this price level. It is, however, one of the most legible and versatile configurations in the lineup, avoiding the more polarizing texture and stone dials. The Presidential bracelet's semi-hidden clasp and three-piece link construction remain one of the most comfortable and recognizable bracelets in fine watchmaking.
Styles has previously demonstrated eclectic taste in jewellery and accessories, often leaning into retro-luxe aesthetics that align well with a vintage-adjacent reference like this. His forearm tattoos — visible in the shot — provide an interesting counterpoint to what is arguably one of the most establishment watches ever made, a contrast that feels deliberately Styles.
At retail, the Rolex Day-Date 40 reference 228238 in yellow gold lists at approximately $36,850 USD. On the secondary market, demand consistently pushes grey-market prices above retail, with clean examples trading in the $42,000–$46,000 range depending on condition and papers.