Singer Justin Bieber spotted wearing a Rolex

At what appears to be a Vogue-affiliated event, Justin Bieber arrived in a red blazer and oversized black sunglasses — and on his tattooed wrist, a Rolex Day-Date 40 in 18k yellow gold commanded immediate attention. The watch features a diamond-set bezel, a champagne or gold-tone dial with diamond indices, and Rolex's signature President bracelet, a three-link semi-circular design exclusive to the Day-Date and Lady-Datejust lines. It is the kind of configuration that signals serious intent, not impulse.

The Day-Date 40, reference 228238, represents Rolex's flagship complication in its most traditional expression. Introduced in 2015 to replace the 36mm 118238, the 40mm case houses the calibre 3255 movement — one of the most technically accomplished in-house ebauches Rolex has ever produced. The 3255 offers a 70-hour power reserve, Rolex's patented Chronergy escapement, and a date and full day-of-week display in the language of the wearer's choice. The movement beats at 28,800 vph and is certified as a Superlative Chronometer, accurate to +/-2 seconds per day.

The diamond bezel configuration — known in Rolex nomenclature as a 'set' bezel — uses 52 brilliant-cut diamonds channel-set in 18k yellow gold. Combined with the diamond hour indices, a fully set example like Bieber's represents one of the most expensive standard-production Rolex configurations available at retail. Collectors debate whether diamond-set Day-Dates are investment pieces or statement pieces; the market increasingly says both.

Bieber has worn Rolex consistently throughout his career, gravitating toward high-visibility yellow gold pieces that complement his streetwear-meets-luxury aesthetic. The Day-Date 40 is a deliberate step beyond the Datejust or Submariner — it is the watch Rolex makes available only in precious metal, positioning it as an aspirational apex within the brand's own hierarchy.

On the secondary market, a yellow gold Day-Date 40 with factory diamond bezel and diamond dial commands a significant premium over retail. Grey-market prices for reference 228238 in this configuration routinely exceed $60,000 USD, with some fully-loaded examples trading north of $75,000 depending on dial specification. Official retail starts around $52,550 for the base yellow gold configuration; the diamond bezel pushes the list price well above that threshold.