Watch Paparazzi

Politician Lito Atienza spotted wearing Rolex

During the Philippine Vice Presidential campaign trail, former Manila Mayor Lito Atienza was observed wearing a Rolex Sky-Dweller reference 326139 in 18k white gold — a watch that commands attention both on the wrist and in the auction room. The sighting places one of Rolex's most technically ambitious references squarely in the Philippine political spotlight.

Introduced at Baselworld 2012, the Rolex Sky-Dweller immediately distinguished itself as the brand's most complication-rich wristwatch. Reference 326139 houses the calibre 9001, a proprietary self-winding movement beating at 28,800 vph with a 72-hour power reserve. Its annual calendar uses a disc-and-aperture system for the off-centre month display, complemented by a bidirectional GMT hand for a second time zone. The signature innovation is the Saros ring-command bezel — a patented mechanism that allows the wearer to select and set three functions by simply rotating the fluted outer ring, eliminating the need for separate pushers. In 18k white gold, reference 326139 pairs with a white or champagne dial and is typically fitted on an Oyster or Jubilee bracelet in matching precious metal.

Among collectors, the Sky-Dweller occupies a nuanced position. It was initially met with skepticism — some purists found the asymmetric dial layout divisive — but it has steadily earned respect as buyers recognized the genuine engineering depth behind its 14 patents. Precious metal Sky-Dwellers, particularly white gold references, retain strong secondary-market values and are viewed as credible complications rather than mere dress watches.

Lito Atienza, a veteran of Manila city politics spanning decades and a cabinet secretary under President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, has long been associated with an assertive public profile. Wearing a reference 326139 during a Vice Presidential run signals both affluence and a taste for substance beneath the surface — qualities the Sky-Dweller itself embodies rather well.

On the market, the Rolex Sky-Dweller 326139 in 18k white gold carries a retail price in the mid-to-upper five figures. Grey-market premiums have moderated since 2022 peaks but remain positive, with well-documented examples trading comfortably above list among Asia-Pacific buyers — a region where precious-metal Rolex complications continue to attract disproportionate demand.