Watch Paparazzi

Television presenter Steve Harvey spotted wearing Rolex

Steve Harvey was recently spotted on the wrist with one of Rolex's most opulent production references — the Day-Date 40 in 18K yellow gold with a fully factory-set pavé ruby dial, baguette-cut ruby hour markers, and a ruby-set bezel, catalogued under reference 228398TRU. For a host whose personal style has become as much a talking point as his television career, the choice lands perfectly.

The Rolex Day-Date 40 ref. 228398TRU sits at the very top of the Day-Date family's stone-set hierarchy. The 40mm Oyster case is crafted entirely from 18K yellow gold, and the bezel is channel-set with calibrated rubies rather than the fluted or diamond configurations more commonly seen. The dial goes further still: a pavé field of brilliant-cut diamonds serves as the base, while baguette-cut rubies replace conventional hour markers, creating a dial surface that catches light from every angle. Powering the watch is the Rolex Calibre 3255, a manufacture movement featuring a Chronergy escapement, a 70-hour power reserve, and a Syloxi silicon hairspring — representing a genuine technical leap over the predecessor Cal. 3155.

The Day-Date lineage dates to 1956, when Rolex introduced the first wristwatch to display the full day of the week spelled out on the dial. From the outset it was positioned as a watch for heads of state, business leaders, and cultural figures — a positioning Rolex has never abandoned. The TRU suffix in the reference denotes the specific ruby and diamond stone combination, making this one of a relatively small number of factory gem-set configurations Rolex releases in any given collection cycle.

Collector interest in gem-set Day-Date references has strengthened considerably over the past decade. Purists focus on factory originality — any aftermarket stone setting collapses value — and a verified 228398TRU in unworn condition commands serious attention at auction and in the grey market alike.

Steve Harvey, whose watch collection is well documented by enthusiasts and regularly includes high-complication and high-jewellery pieces, wears the 228398TRU with the ease of someone entirely at home with the watch. UK list price sits at approximately £80,000, reflecting both the precious metal content and the extensive hand-setting labour involved.