Footballer Antonio Rüdiger spotted wearing a Rolex

Antonio Rüdiger, the Germany international and Real Madrid centre-back known for his commanding presence both on the pitch and off it, was recently spotted wearing one of Rolex's most exclusive and technically complex wristwatches: the platinum Day-Date 40 reference 228396TBR, fitted with an ice blue dial and a factory baguette diamond bezel.

The Rolex Day-Date 40 ref. 228396TBR is built around a 40mm case in 950 platinum — a metal so exclusively associated with the Day-Date that Rolex reserves several of its most prestigious dial and bezel combinations for platinum alone. The ice blue dial is a case in point: that particular shade is produced specifically to complement platinum and appears on no other metal variant. Arabic numerals give the dial a bold, uncluttered readability, while the bezel features 40 baguette-cut diamonds set individually in a channel configuration, replacing the signature fluted bezel entirely. Inside runs the calibre 3255, Rolex's in-house movement featuring a Chronergy escapement, a Parachrom hairspring, and a 70-hour power reserve — arguably the most refined movement in the brand's current production lineup.

The Day-Date has carried the nickname 'President's watch' since the 1950s, worn by heads of state and cultural figures across generations. The baguette bezel models occupy the top tier of that lineage. Reference 228396TBR is not available on open allocation at authorised dealers; acquiring one new requires either exceptional relationships with a retailer or considerable patience on a waiting list that, in practice, rarely resolves. That scarcity is structural, not manufactured.

Rüdiger has established himself as one of European football's more serious watch collectors, with a wardrobe that skews toward high-jewellery and ultra-precious metal references rather than sports models — a collector profile more aligned with the art world than the typical footballer's preference for Daytona chronographs.

On the secondary market, the 228396TBR commands a significant premium over its already substantial retail price. List price sits at approximately $120,000, but current grey-market valuations place the reference closer to $400,000 — a multiplier that reflects genuine demand against near-zero secondary supply. For a watch this rare, that gap is likely to persist.