Footballer Vinicius Junior spotted wearing a Rolex

Vinicius Junior, Real Madrid's Brazilian forward and one of football's brightest current talents, was photographed during a LaLiga match wearing a Rolex Day-Date 40 in 18k white gold, reference 228239, fitted with the striking green olive dial — a detail that places this particular watch firmly in anniversary-edition territory.

The Day-Date 40 ref. 228239 was introduced in 2016 as part of Rolex's quiet but deliberate overhaul of its presidential flagship. The 40mm case — up from the historic 36mm of the original 1118 — houses the in-house calibre 3255, one of the most technically accomplished movements Rolex has ever produced. The 3255 offers a 70-hour power reserve, a Chronergy escapement, and Parachrom hairspring, delivering a precision specification that goes well beyond what most wearers will ever demand of a dress watch. The green olive sunburst dial, trimmed with applied Roman numeral hour markers in 18k gold, was developed specifically to celebrate the Day-Date's 60th anniversary, lending the reference a commemorative cachet that standard dial variants simply do not carry.

Among collectors, the 228239 in white gold with the olive dial occupies a compelling position. White gold Day-Dates are produced in considerably smaller numbers than their yellow or Everose counterparts, and anniversary dials with documented production rationale tend to hold collector interest over time. The combination makes this reference a coherent choice for someone who wants a Day-Date that reads as considered rather than default.

Vinicius Junior's relationship with high horology is well established. The 23-year-old has been seen in a range of significant timepieces, and his choice of the Day-Date — a watch whose history runs from Eisenhower to the present — signals an appetite for watches with institutional weight, not just market visibility.

At retail, the Rolex Day-Date 40 ref. 228239 in 18k white gold with olive dial is listed at $42,500. On the secondary market it currently trades around $48,000, a modest but consistent premium that reflects sustained demand and the relative scarcity of white gold production in the Day-Date range.