Watch Paparazzi

Entrepreneur Marco Tronchetti Provera spotted wearing Rolex

Milan's business elite rarely need to announce themselves, and neither does the Rolex Day-Date 40 ref. 228239. Pirelli Group CEO Marco Tronchetti Provera was recently photographed wearing the white gold variant of this reference, its green olive dial catching the light with the quiet confidence of a man who runs one of the world's most storied industrial empires.

The reference 228239 sits at the top of the Rolex sports-dress hierarchy. Cased in 18k white gold measuring 40mm — a step up from the historic 36mm format — it houses the in-house calibre 3255, one of Rolex's most technically accomplished movements. The 3255 offers a 70-hour power reserve, a Chronergy escapement with roughly 15% greater efficiency than a conventional lever escapement, and a Paraflex shock absorber system. The movement is certified as a Superlative Chronometer, rated to ±2 seconds per day. The characteristic President bracelet, machined entirely in white gold, remains exclusive to the Day-Date line.

The Day-Date was introduced at the 1956 Basel Fair as the first wristwatch to display the day of the week spelled out in full — a feat Rolex achieved by engineering a dedicated disc and window alongside the date. The 228239 reference arrived in 2016 as part of the 60th anniversary refresh, which introduced the larger case diameter and the new-generation 3255 calibre. The green olive dial Tronchetti Provera wears is one of several lacquered dials in the lineup, its warm, muted tone referencing Rolex's long tradition of naturalistic color references.

Among collectors, the Day-Date 40 in precious metals occupies an unambiguous position: it is the company's flagship dress watch, worn historically by heads of state and captains of industry. The white gold variant carries slightly less premium than its yellow gold counterpart on the secondary market, but remains deeply desirable for its cooler aesthetic and formal versatility. Tronchetti Provera's choice signals taste over ostentation — the olive dial reads sophisticated rather than showy.

At retail, the Rolex Day-Date 40 ref. 228239 with a green olive dial lists at approximately $38,550 USD. On the grey market, strong demand for precious-metal Day-Date references keeps prices comfortably above retail, typically trading between $42,000 and $48,000 depending on condition and dial configuration.