Watch Paparazzi

Rapper Tupac Shakur 2pac spotted wearing Rolex

At a crowded industry event circa 1995-1996, Tupac Shakur stepped out draped in gold — chains, rings, and a Rolex Day-Date that commanded its own attention on his wrist. The piece sits flush against a stack of bracelets, its diamond-set bezel catching the event lighting in a way that leaves no ambiguity about intent. This was a watch chosen for maximum visual statement, and it delivered.

The reference visible here is consistent with the Rolex Day-Date 18038, produced from 1978 through the late 1980s. Cased in 18k yellow gold with a bark-textured President bracelet, the watch measures 36mm — the standard President dimension before the 41mm 228238 arrived in 2015. The green dial features baguette and round diamond hour markers rather than applied indices, and the bezel is set with a full ring of round brilliant-cut diamonds, a factory option Rolex designated as a 'diamond bezel' configuration. Powering the 18038 is the Calibre 3055, a 27-jewel self-winding movement with a 48-hour power reserve and Rolex's proprietary day-change mechanism, capable of instant day correction via the crown.

The Day-Date's collector significance is well established. Launched in 1956 exclusively in precious metals, it was the first watch to spell out the full day of the week on the dial — hence the name. Rolex reserved the President bracelet name specifically for this model, and it has never appeared on any other reference. The green dial variant carries particular weight among collectors; green dials were relatively scarce on vintage Day-Dates and have seen aggressive price appreciation following renewed market interest in the colour post-116610LV Submariner.

Tupac's relationship with luxury watches reflected the broader hip-hop culture of the mid-1990s, where the Day-Date — long associated with heads of state and corporate power — was being recontextualized as a symbol of self-made success. The watch appears throughout his later public appearances, consistent with his known preference for yellow gold Rolex pieces.

On today's grey market, a clean 18038 with diamond bezel and original green dial trades at a meaningful premium over standard-dial examples. Condition, originality of the dial, and bracelet stretch all affect final price substantially. Expect strong continued demand given the model's crossover appeal between vintage Rolex collectors and hip-hop cultural artefact hunters.