Watch Paparazzi

Pope Dalai Lama spotted wearing Rolex

The Dalai Lama has never hidden his fondness for watches — a passion he has spoken about openly, tracing it back to a Longines gifted to him by a young admirer decades ago. In this sighting, His Holiness is wearing what appears to be a Rolex Day-Date 36 in 18k yellow gold, the blue dial glinting distinctly against his trademark saffron robes. Notably, the bracelet deviates from Rolex's signature President bracelet, suggesting either an aftermarket substitution or a period-correct alternative — a quirk that adds genuine collector interest to the piece.

The Day-Date 36, reference 18038, debuted in the late 1970s and is powered by the Rolex Calibre 3055, a COSC-certified automatic movement featuring the brand's patented instantaneous day-and-date mechanism — the complication that gives the model its name. The fluted bezel in yellow gold and the characteristic cyclops lens over the date aperture are both visible in the inset reference image, consistent with this reference family. The blue dial variant — almost certainly applied index, no diamonds — is among the cleaner, more understated executions in the Day-Date catalogue.

From a collector standpoint, the reference 18038 occupies a sweet spot: pre-modern enough to carry genuine vintage cachet, yet mechanically robust and widely serviced. Blue dials on yellow gold Day-Dates from this era command consistent premiums on the secondary market, particularly in clean, original condition. The bracelet anomaly here would typically reduce value for purists, but the provenance attached to this specific watch is, to understate it considerably, extraordinary.

The Dalai Lama — spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism and Nobel Peace Prize laureate — has received numerous watches as gifts from visiting dignitaries and admirers. His collection, documented across various public appearances, spans Rolex, Omega, and other Swiss marques. The Day-Date is fitting: it was designed explicitly for individuals who shape the world, and few have done so more quietly or persistently than Tenzin Gyatso.

On the grey market, a ref. 18038 with blue dial in solid yellow gold trades between $18,000 and $28,000 depending on condition, bracelet originality, and box-and-papers status. This example, bracelet irregularity aside, would attract significant collector attention for reasons entirely beyond horology.