Actor Pedro Pascal spotted wearing a Rolex

In the 2020 superhero film Wonder Woman 1984, Pedro Pascal plays Maxwell Lord, a slick, morally bankrupt oil tycoon whose wardrobe is a masterclass in Reagan-era conspicuous consumption. Among the most telling props on his wrist: a solid 18k yellow gold Rolex Datejust 36, complete with fluted bezel, champagne dial set with diamond hour markers, and the iconic Jubilee bracelet. The costume department could hardly have chosen a more culturally precise timepiece for the era.

The reference in question is almost certainly the Rolex Datejust 16238, produced from 1988 to 2007. Built around the calibre 3135 automatic movement — a 28,800 vph workhorse with a 48-hour power reserve and Rolex's own Microstella regulation system — the 36mm Oyster case in 18k yellow gold sits beneath a classic engine-turned fluted bezel. The champagne dial with baguette or round diamond indices was a factory option that pushed the reference firmly into haute joaillerie territory without abandoning everyday wearability. The date window at 3 o'clock, framed by a cyclops lens, remains one of Rolex's most recognisable signatures.

The 16238 occupies a fascinating position in the collector market. It bridges the era between the older calibre 3035-based references and the modern 116238 that succeeded it in 2007. Purists appreciate its slightly more slender proportions and the finishing quality consistent with late-Genevan-era Rolex craftsmanship. A full-gold diamond-dial example in strong condition commands serious attention at auction and in the grey market alike.

For Pascal, the casting of this specific watch model is no accident. Maxwell Lord is a character defined by performative wealth and the desperation underneath it — and few objects in popular culture signal nouveau-riche ambition quite like a gold Datejust. The watch does narrative work that dialogue alone could not.

On the current market, a Rolex Datejust 36 reference 16238 in solid yellow gold with a diamond dial in excellent condition trades between $18,000 and $26,000 depending on box-and-papers status. The reference is discontinued, which has steadily firmed its secondary market value as collectors recognise its place in Rolex horological history.