Actor Eddie Murphy spotted wearing a Rolex

Eddie Murphy has never been subtle about his affection for diamond-set Rolex Day-Dates, and a recent birthday photograph adds another chapter to that well-established story. The actor is seen wearing the Rolex Day-Date 36 ref. 128349RBR — one of the most fully dressed expressions of the model currently in production — confirming that his taste runs consistently toward factory jewellery rather than aftermarket modifications.

The ref. 128349RBR sits within the modern 36mm Day-Date family introduced after Rolex's quiet platform update in 2019, which brought the calibre 3255 movement to the 36mm case for the first time. That movement is one of the most technically accomplished in-house ebauches Rolex produces: a 70-hour power reserve, a Chronergy escapement with roughly 15 percent greater efficiency than a conventional lever escapement, and a Parachrom hairspring resistant to magnetic fields and temperature variation. The 'RBR' suffix in the reference denotes the factory diamond-set bezel — 46 brilliant-cut diamonds totalling approximately 1.78 carats channel-set into the white gold bezel flange. Murphy's specific configuration adds a mother-of-pearl dial with eight round brilliant-cut and two baguette-cut diamond hour markers, a combination Rolex designates within its Rolesor and precious stone dial options.

From a collector standpoint, factory-jewelled Day-Dates carry a premium precisely because Rolex controls the entire supply chain for its gem-setting workshop in Geneva. Unlike aftermarket diamond dials, Rolex-certified stone setting comes with the manufacturer's full warranty and documented provenance — factors that matter considerably on the secondary market. The 36mm Day-Date has also regained serious collector traction since receiving the 3255 calibre, closing much of the credibility gap that once existed between it and the larger 40mm reference.

Murphy, whose career spans Beverly Hills Cop, Coming to America, and decades of stand-up, has been photographed in factory-set Day-Dates on multiple occasions. The choice is coherent with his public persona: classic Rolex architecture, maximum in-house specification, no need for outside modification.

At retail, the Rolex Day-Date 36 ref. 128349RBR lists at approximately $46,550 USD through authorised dealers, though authorised dealer availability for jewelled precious-metal references remains extremely limited. On the grey market, examples trade meaningfully above retail, typically in the $52,000–$58,000 range depending on condition and completeness.