Watch Paparazzi

Footballer Gerard Pique spotted wearing Rolex

Gerard Pique touched down in Saudi Arabia with the kind of wrist real estate that stops even seasoned watch spotters cold: a Rolex Cosmograph Daytona 116595RBOW in 18kt Everose gold, factory-set with a full complement of rainbow baguette sapphires. The sighting, credited to spotter @timotberg, adds another high-profile name to the growing list of footballers who have gravitated toward Rolex's most theatrical complication.

The Daytona 116595RBOW was introduced in 2012 as part of Rolex's gem-setting programme and sits at the very top of the Daytona family hierarchy. The case and integrated Oyster bracelet are crafted entirely in Rolex's proprietary Everose gold — a 18kt rose-gold alloy developed in-house for superior colour stability. The bezel carries 36 baguette-cut sapphires arranged in a precise chromatic gradient, while the dial features 11 further baguette markers echoing the same rainbow sequence. Movement duties fall to the Calibre 4130, Rolex's entirely in-house chronograph movement featuring a column wheel, vertical clutch, and a 72-hour power reserve — a serious engine beneath an undeniably extravagant exterior.

For collectors, the 116595RBOW occupies an almost mythological status. Rolex produces the reference in extremely limited numbers, and authorised dealers rarely see allocation. The combination of precious metal, hand-selected matched gemstones, and a technically accomplished movement makes it a legitimate grand complication in all but the strictest definition. It has become a benchmark piece in the high-jewellery sports watch conversation, consistently referenced alongside Patek Philippe's gem-set Nautilus references as a pinnacle of the category.

Pique, who spent the defining years of his career at FC Barcelona winning multiple La Liga titles and UEFA Champions League trophies, has long maintained a taste for statement timepieces. Wearing the Rainbow Daytona during an international trip underlines both his continued relevance as a sporting figure and his standing as a genuine watch enthusiast rather than a passive celebrity endorser.

On the market, the numbers are stark. The official Rolex list price sits at approximately $126,750, but grey-market reality is a different conversation entirely. The 116595RBOW currently trades at an estimated $565,000 — roughly four and a half times retail — making it one of the highest premiums in the entire secondary watch market. Demand consistently outpaces supply with no sign of correction.