Watch Paparazzi

Actor Sanjay Dutt spotted wearing Rolex

Sanjay Dutt was recently spotted wearing a Rolex Day-Date 40 reference 228348RBR-0039, one of the most opulent configurations in the current Day-Date lineup — a watch that sits at the intersection of haute joaillerie and presidential prestige.

The ref. 228348RBR-0039 is built on a 40mm 18K yellow gold case, an upgrade in diameter introduced when Rolex relaunched the Day-Date family in 2015 alongside the calibre 3255. The bezel is set with brilliant-cut diamonds, while the dial is crafted from natural onyx — a semi-precious stone that Rolex sources and cuts in-house at its dial manufactory. Ten baguette-cut diamond hour markers line the chapter ring, and the signature Cyclops lens magnifies the date at 3 o'clock above a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal. A screw-down caseback and Oyster architecture ensure 100 metres of water resistance, standard even on this jewellery-grade piece.

Powering the watch is the in-house calibre 3255, a movement Rolex spent over a decade developing. It features a Chronergy escapement — a patented design offering 15 percent greater efficiency than a conventional Swiss lever — a 70-hour power reserve, and a movement precision of ±2 seconds per day. The 3255 holds 14 patents and is widely regarded as a benchmark in modern Swiss watchmaking.

The Day-Date has carried the nickname "President's watch" since Dwight D. Eisenhower received one in 1956. Offered exclusively in precious metals and exclusively on the President bracelet, it has historically signalled a particular tier of achievement. In Bollywood, where watch choices read as cultural statements, the all-gold, diamond-set configuration Dutt chose amplifies that signal considerably. Dutt, who won multiple awards for his raw portrayal of a gangster in Vaastav (1999), has remained one of Hindi cinema's most recognisable faces across four decades.

At a retail price of $41,500, the 228348RBR-0039 is already a significant investment, but the grey market tells a starker story: demand for diamond-bezel, exotic-dial Day-Date 40 references has pushed secondary prices to approximately $75,000 — nearly double retail — reflecting the severe scarcity of fully jewelled Rolex configurations at authorised dealers.