Watch Paparazzi

Footballer Erling Haaland spotted wearing Rolex

Erling Haaland was photographed on holiday in Greece wearing what is arguably the most technically and aesthetically accomplished sports chronograph in Rolex's current catalogue: the Cosmograph Daytona reference 116506 in platinum. The image shows the Norwegian striker relaxed and off-duty, the watch sitting confidently on his wrist — a telling choice for a footballer whose taste in timepieces has matured noticeably alongside his career.

The Rolex Cosmograph Daytona ref. 116506 was unveiled at Baselworld 2013 and represented a landmark moment for the line. Built entirely in 950 platinum, it was the first Daytona to feature a ceramic — or Cerachrom — bezel, rendered here in a warm espresso brown tone that Rolex produces exclusively for this reference. The dial is rendered in ice blue, a colour Rolex reserves strictly for its platinum models, giving the 116506 an immediate visual identity that sets it apart from every steel or gold variant in the range. The 40mm case is powered by the calibre 4130, Rolex's own column-wheel chronograph movement with a vertical clutch, offering 72 hours of power reserve and a robustness that justifies serious daily wear.

Among collectors, the ref. 116506 occupies a near-mythological position. It is simultaneously a tool chronograph and a precious metal statement piece — a combination that few watches in any price bracket manage convincingly. Waiting lists at authorised dealers have historically stretched years, and the piece rarely appears at auction without attracting serious competition. The ice blue and brown ceramic pairing has become one of the most recognisable dial-and-bezel combinations in modern watchmaking.

Haaland's affinity for serious horology is well documented. The Borussia Dortmund and Norway international has been spotted with a range of high-end references, but the 116506 signals a collector's deliberate intent rather than impulse luxury spending. This is not a watch you acquire casually.

At retail the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona ref. 116506 lists at approximately $85,775, but the grey market tells a different story. Secondary market values currently sit around $127,000, reflecting both chronic scarcity at authorised dealers and sustained global demand. For a watch that wears as quietly as it performs, that premium is unlikely to soften anytime soon.