Watch Paparazzi

Footballer Jermaine Defoe spotted wearing Rolex

Jermaine Defoe, the England international and career Premier League striker, was photographed wearing a stainless steel Rolex Daytona reference 116520 — a watch whose reputation among collectors has quietly outgrown even its own considerable fame. The sighting places Defoe firmly in a long tradition of professional footballers gravitating toward the Daytona as a first serious horological statement.

The Rolex Daytona 116520 was introduced in 2000 and ran in production until 2016, when it was superseded by the ref. 116500LN with its now-signature ceramic tachymeter bezel. The 116520 houses Rolex's Calibre 4130, an entirely in-house automatic chronograph movement developed after Rolex acquired the Aegler manufacture. The 4130 operates at 28,800 vph, offers approximately 72 hours of power reserve, and features a column wheel and vertical clutch — two hallmarks of high-end chronograph construction. The 40mm Oyster case in 904L stainless steel carries a tachymeter-scaled fixed bezel in either black or white, framing a contrasting sub-dial configuration that remains one of the most legible chronograph dials in the category.

From a collector standpoint, the 116520 occupies a pivotal chapter in Daytona history. It was the first reference to feature Rolex's proprietary movement rather than a modified Zenith calibre, and that pedigree — combined with its now-discontinued status — has made it a firm favourite on the secondary market. Waitlists at authorised dealers during its production run were notorious, and demand never softened after discontinuation.

Defoe built a two-decade Premier League career with clubs including Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham, Portsmouth, and Sunderland AFC, earning 57 England caps and a reputation as one of the most clinical finishers of his generation. The Daytona 116520 suits that profile well: understated at a glance, technically serious on closer inspection.

With an original UK RRP in the region of £7,950, the 116520 now trades significantly above its list price on the grey market. Depending on dial colour, condition, and box-and-papers status, stainless steel examples routinely command between $18,000 and $28,000 USD at auction and through secondary dealers — a reflection of sustained global appetite for one of Rolex's most accomplished references.