Watch Paparazzi

Model Emily Ratajkowski spotted wearing Rolex

Emily Ratajkowski — model, actress, and reliably compelling presence in the street-style conversation — was recently spotted wearing a Rolex Day-Date ref. 118238 in 18ct yellow gold. The piece she chose is among the more characterful references in the modern Day-Date lineage, distinguished by its so-called 'Bull's Eye' dial: a deep brown central disc surrounded by a lighter contrasting outer chapter ring that creates the concentric, target-like effect the nickname describes. Mounted on Rolex's President bracelet — the three-piece link design that has been synonymous with the Day-Date since 1956 — the watch reads as both classic and deliberate.

The ref. 118238 belongs to the 36mm Day-Date generation introduced in the early 2000s, preceding the current 118238's successor references in the 228 family. It houses the Rolex Calibre 3155, a COSC-certified self-winding movement with a 48-hour power reserve, quick-set day and date functionality, and Rolex's proprietary Parachrom hairspring for shock and temperature resistance. The fluted bezel in 18ct yellow gold is machine-tooled to Rolex's exacting standards and serves both an aesthetic and a subtle authentication function. Ratajkowski's example adds eight princess-cut diamonds and two baguettes at the 6 and 9 o'clock positions, elevating the factory dial into full dress-watch territory.

The Day-Date 'Bull's Eye' occupies a specific and enthusiastic corner of Rolex collector culture. Unusual dial variants — 'Stella,' 'Tropical,' 'Meteorite,' 'Bull's Eye' — consistently attract premium attention at auction, and the bull's eye configuration in yellow gold with diamond hour markers is considered one of the more wearable exotic dial options: bold enough to register, refined enough to wear with anything. Collectors regard it as a genuine character piece within an otherwise conservative catalogue.

Ratajkowski has demonstrated a consistent preference for investment-grade, architecturally interesting jewellery, and the Day-Date ref. 118238 fits that profile precisely. The President bracelet and yellow gold case position the watch firmly in the 'power dressing' tradition, while the bull's eye dial keeps it from reading as purely conventional.

At a retail price of $32,750, the ref. 118238 sits at the entry point of the yellow gold Day-Date range. On the grey market, strong dial variants like the bull's eye command premiums above retail, with comparable examples trading between $38,000 and $45,000 depending on condition and box/papers status.