Cricketer MS Dhoni spotted wearing a Rolex

MS Dhoni, former captain of the Indian national cricket team and one of the most decorated players in the sport's history, was recently spotted on the wrist with a Rolex Oyster Perpetual Ref. 124300 — a watch that has quietly become one of the most talked-about references in the current Rolex catalogue.

The Rolex Oyster Perpetual 124300 was introduced in 2020 as the 41mm iteration of Rolex's entry-level, no-date sports line. What should have been a straightforward catalogue refresh became something far more significant when Rolex released it with a set of vivid lacquered dials — Coral Red, Yellow, Turquoise Blue, and Olive Green among them — that broke sharply from the brand's typically conservative palette. The 41mm Oystersteel case houses the Calibre 3230, a movement featuring Rolex's proprietary Chronergy escapement, a paramagnetic blue Parachrom hairspring, and a power reserve of approximately 70 hours. Water resistance sits at 100 metres, and the case is finished to Rolex's exacting standard of brushed and polished surfaces.

From a collector standpoint, the Ref. 124300 occupies an unusual position in the Rolex hierarchy. It is nominally the brand's most accessible professional-adjacent reference, yet certain dial variants — particularly the Tiffany Blue and Coral Red — traded at significant premiums over retail on the secondary market in the years following launch. The watch attracted buyers who had no interest in sports references but wanted something from Geneva's most recognised name with genuine visual personality. It is, in short, a collector's Rolex disguised as a starter Rolex.

Dhoni's affinity for fine watches is well documented. The Ranchi-born wicketkeeper-batsman has been seen across the years with a range of high-end pieces, and his choice here is characteristically low-key — the Oyster Perpetual carries no complication, no precious metal, and no status signifier beyond the crown on the dial. That restraint is consistent with the man's public image.

At an official retail price of approximately $6,150 USD, the Rolex Oyster Perpetual 124300 remains one of the more attainable entries into new Rolex ownership — though authorised dealer availability continues to lag behind demand for desirable dial variants. Grey market pricing on sought-after colours can reach multiples of retail, though standard dial examples trade closer to list. Dhoni's sighting at a reported valuation of $20,000 likely reflects either a rare dial variant or prevailing secondary market premiums on a watch that Rolex has, by any measure, underpriced for its cultural impact.