Watch Paparazzi

Footballer Samuel Umtiti spotted wearing Rolex

Spotted relaxed and smiling in what appears to be an outdoor fitness setting, French defender Samuel Umtiti is wearing a Rolex Day-Date 40 in 18K white gold with the striking olive green dial — a reference closely identified as the 228239, introduced at Baselworld 2015 and delivered as part of the model's 60th anniversary celebrations in 2016. The pairing of a sleeveless hoodie with one of Rolex's most prestigious dress watches is precisely the kind of contrast that makes celebrity watch sightings compelling.

The Day-Date 40 ref. 228239 represents the first significant size update to the Day-Date line since its 1956 debut, stepping up from the long-running 36mm format to a 40mm case. Crafted entirely in 18K white gold — case, fluted bezel, and President bracelet — the watch houses Rolex's in-house caliber 3255, a movement featuring a Chronergy escapement, 70-hour power reserve, and certification as a Superlative Chronometer to ±2 seconds per day accuracy. The lacquered olive green dial, with its applied baton hour markers and characteristic day-date double aperture at 12 and 3 o'clock, was one of several anniversary colorways that immediately resonated with collectors.

The olive green reference earned collector attention almost immediately upon release. Green dials across Rolex's portfolio — from the Submariner 116610LV to the Datejust — have historically commanded premiums on the secondary market, and the Day-Date 40 in this configuration is no exception. It occupies a specific niche: presidential gravitas in a contemporary case size, with a dial color that photographs dramatically without veering into ostentation.

Samuel Umtiti, 2018 FIFA World Cup winner with France and a long-serving center-back at FC Barcelona, has a watch taste that leans toward classic luxury rather than flashy complications. The Day-Date 40 in white gold is a natural fit — aspirational, recognizable to insiders, and historically significant without requiring explanation.

At an official retail price of approximately $38,500, the 228239 with olive green dial trades on the grey market at meaningful premiums, reflecting sustained demand and limited authorized dealer availability. For collectors and enthusiasts, spotting it on the wrist of a World Champion in a casual setting only reinforces its crossover appeal.