Watch Paparazzi

Model Hailey Rhode Baldwin spotted wearing Rolex

Hailey Bieber — model, entrepreneur, and one of the most photographed women in contemporary culture — was recently spotted on the wrist wearing a Rolex Day-Date 36 in 18k yellow gold with a turquoise stone dial and diamond-set hour markers, reference 128238. The choice is far from incidental: the Day-Date remains one of the most status-laden references in all of watchmaking, and this particular dial configuration elevates it further into wearable art territory.

The Rolex Day-Date 36 ref. 128238 is powered by the in-house Calibre 3255, a movement that represents Rolex's most significant mechanical development in decades. Featuring a Chronergy escapement, a 70-hour power reserve, and a Superlative Chronometer certification guaranteeing accuracy to +/-2 seconds per day, the 3255 sets the technical benchmark for the segment. The 36mm Oyster case in 18k yellow gold is paired with the signature President bracelet — itself a reference to the watch's storied association with heads of state since its 1956 debut, when it became the first wristwatch to display the full day of the week alongside the date.

The turquoise dial is what distinguishes this reference as a genuine collector's piece. Rolex sources and cuts the stone entirely in-house, hand-finishing each dial individually. Turquoise is among the most challenging dial materials to work with — porous, sensitive to oils and light, and prone to darkening — which means production yields are low and no two dials share the same veining or tone. Diamond baguette or round-brilliant hour markers further anchor the piece in jewellery watch territory without crossing into ostentation.

For Hailey Bieber, the Day-Date 128238 reads as a deliberate, knowledgeable selection rather than a borrowed press piece. She has consistently gravitated toward classic references with strong horological credentials, and the President bracelet's cultural weight — worn by Eisenhower, Nixon, and LBJ — adds a layer of historical irony that suits her aesthetically self-aware public persona.

On the grey market, stone-dial Day-Date 36 examples in yellow gold command significant premiums over list, driven by limited availability and strong demand from both jewellery and watch collectors. The turquoise configuration in particular trades well above retail, reflecting its scarcity and the crossover appeal it holds beyond traditional watch circles.