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Justin Bieber added to his collection of eclectic accessories this week with a vintage yellow gold Rolex Day-Date with a money-green “Stella” dial, a rare and collectible watch that strikes the perfect Bieber-esque balance between freaky and refined. The watch was introduced in the 1970s as part of a series of colorful lacquered dial options for the 36mm Day-Date, but like many bold ideas, the Stella seems to have been ahead of its time. Despite the popularity of colorful pieces from brands like Piaget and Cartier during that era, it seems Rolex buyers weren’t quite yet ready for the Stella’s exuberance, and it’s thought that many Stella dials were later replaced with more traditional ones in white, black, and silver over the years.
As Cam Wolf notes in this week’s edition of Box + Papers, however, the times have finally caught up with the Stella’s colorful personality—which fits perfectly alongside recent Rolex drops like the Puzzle Dial Day-Date and “Celebration” dial Oyster Perpetual—and adventurous collectors like the Biebs are snapping them up. Speaking of which: If you’re looking to add a Stella to your own collection, Cam notes that this week is an excellent time to do it, with a selection currently up for bids at the Monaco Legends auction in a tasty variety of flavors from eggplant to mint chocolate chip.
If anyone was concerned about what Tom Brady would do following his NFL retirement earlier this year, you can rest easy in the knowledge that the former quarterback is keeping busy cementing his reputation as a GOAT watch collector. Following recent appearances wearing a rose gold Puzzle Dial Rolex Day-Date, a solid gold “John Player Special” Rolex Daytona, and an extremely rare platinum Richard Mille, his hot streak continued courtside at the WNBA Finals this week with a Patek Philippe Nautilus 5980-1R-001. While not quite as rare as some of the other pieces in Brady’s rotation, this version of Patek’s iconic sports watch has a solid rose gold case that shines all the brighter against a moody black gradient dial, making for an extremely tasteful addition to the team.
It’s been a busy week for Leo Messi, who clinched Argentina’s 2-0 World Cup qualifying win against Peru on Tuesday before jetting back to Miami to watch his Inter Miami CF teammates tie with Charlotte in their last home game of the season. Messi looked suitably jubilant in the stands sporting a crisp white Inter Miami tee and one of the most coveted Patek Philippe watches of the year: the new Calatrava 6007G-011. Introduced in the 1930s, the Calatrava is a foundational piece in the Patek Philippe universe, with a refined, understated style and countless dressy variations. The latest version, however, might as well have been made with the Patek-loving footballer in mind, with its sporty sky-blue dial accents, a “carbon” motif at center-dial, and a matching contrast-stitched strap.
Comedian Ronny Chieng stepped on stage at Carnegie Hall this week wearing a timely reminder that there’s just as much enjoyment to be had in a $275 Snoopy tennis watch as in a six-figure Swiss grail. Chieng, whose diverse collection includes pieces from Rolex, Tudor, and Seiko x Rowing Blazers, wore a vintage kids’ Mickey Mouse watch that he’s had since he was four, proving once again that the most valuable watches in the world aren’t always the most expensive.
Maxey made an immediate impression as a man of adventurous tastes when he posed for his 2020 NBA Draft photo wearing a hypnotic matching houndstooth suit, shirt, and tie. It comes as little surprise, then, that the 76ers point guard also has a singular eye for watches. At this week’s WNBA Finals, Maxey was spotted courtside wearing the de Bethune DB28 Skybridge, an ultra-limited six-figure creation from one of Switzerland’s most avant-garde watchmakers. One of less than 300 watches de Bethune produces each year, the Skybridge features a deep blue polished titanium dial studded with white gold and diamond “stars” and a unique spherical moon-phase indication. Maxey isn’t the only one who appreciates de Bethune’s sci-fi styling, however: Tennis pros Tommy Paul and Jessica Pegula were both seen sporting the brand on-court at the US Open, and fellow hooper Kyle Kuzma is also known to be a fan.