Actor Eddie Murphy spotted wearing a Rolex

Eddie Murphy was recently photographed wearing a Rolex Day-Date 36 in 18-karat yellow gold, reference 118388, featuring a mother-of-pearl dial set with brilliant-cut and baguette diamond indices, a diamond-pavé bezel, and diamond-set lugs. The combination places this configuration among the most ornate Day-Date variants Rolex produces in-house.

The ref. 118388 sits within the current Day-Date 36 generation, introduced in 2000 as the successor to the long-running 18038 and 18238 lines. Powered by the calibre 3155 — a self-winding movement with 48-hour power reserve, quickset date, and Rolex's own Parachrom hairspring — the watch measures 36mm in yellow gold on a President bracelet. The 118388 designation specifically identifies the yellow gold case with diamond bezel and diamond-set lugs; the mother-of-pearl dial with mixed brilliant and baguette diamond indices adds further to its specification sheet. Every stone is set by Rolex's in-house gem-setting atelier in Geneva.

Collectors regard the fully-loaded Day-Date 36 configurations as the definitive expression of what Rolex has always called the "President's watch." Since its 1956 debut — the first wristwatch to display the full day of the week spelled out — the Day-Date has been the marque's prestige flagship. The diamond bezel references carry a premium over their smooth and fluted counterparts, and mother-of-pearl dials remain perennially in demand among buyers who want maximum presence without crossing into purely bespoke territory.

Eddie Murphy's affinity for Rolex is well documented. The Beverly Hills Cop and Coming to America star has long favored yellow gold and high-jewelry configurations that reflect a classic Hollywood sensibility — confident, unambiguous, and rooted in an era when wearing your success was considered entirely appropriate.

On the secondary market, the Rolex Day-Date 36 ref. 118388 in this full-diamond configuration trades above its already substantial retail price, driven by consistent global demand and Rolex's controlled distribution. New examples are effectively unavailable through authorized dealers without significant waitlist history, making grey-market acquisition the practical route for most buyers.