Television presenter Susie Wolff spotted wearing a Rolex

Susie Wolff, Managing Director of the FIA Formula 1 Academy, captured here in a candid boardroom moment, wears a Rolex Day-Date Ref. 118399BR in white gold—a watch that ranks among the brand's most technically sophisticated iterations. The combination of precious metal, diamond setting, and an exceptionally rare dial variant positions this piece at the intersection of sport watch engineering and fine watchmaking.

The Day-Date Ref. 118399BR employs Rolex's calibre 3155, an automatic movement operating at 28,800 vibrations per hour with a power reserve exceeding 48 hours. The case measures 36 mm in diameter—the classical Day-Date proportion—crafted from 18 karat white gold with a polished finish and a fluted bezel set with 52 diamonds totaling approximately 1.5 carats. Water resistance reaches 100 metres, a practical specification for an instrument intended for daily wear despite its jewellery-grade construction. The Day-Date window at 12 o'clock displays the day in full spelling across a magnified lens, a signature Rolex complication introduced in 1956.

What elevates this specific reference is its dial treatment. The mother-of-pearl Carousel variant incorporates precision-engraved radiating lines that create a three-dimensional optical effect—light refracts and shifts tone as the wrist rotates, generating what Rolex terms a "light play" phenomenon. Diamond hour markers replace the standard applied indices, and the applied Mercedes-style hands in white gold complete the dial architecture. This Carousel treatment represents one of Rolex's most labour-intensive dial productions, limiting availability and appeal to collectors prioritising aesthetic complexity.

Wolff's selection of this watch reflects a growing trend among accomplished female executives and Formula 1 professionals toward technically advanced Rolex sports pieces rather than fashion-forward alternatives. The Day-Date Ref. 118399BR balances boardroom authority with mechanical sophistication—the white gold and diamonds signal prestige without excess, while the mother-of-pearl dial signals horological knowledge to those in the know.

Retail pricing for the Day-Date Ref. 118399BR sits approximately USD 48,000–52,000, though secondary-market examples command premiums reflecting scarcity and the labour-intensive dial. Current grey-market pricing ranges USD 65,000–75,000 depending on condition and box/papers completeness. Waitlists at authorised dealers remain substantial; pre-owned examples with full service records represent the most accessible entry point to this reference.