Tennis player Gaël Monfils spotted wearing a Rolex

Gaël Monfils, the French tennis showman ranked among the ATP Tour's most electrifying players, was recently spotted wearing a Rolex GMT-Master II reference 126710BLNR — the iconic 'Batman' — stacked with an elaborate silver skull-motif bracelet set with black diamonds. The pairing is entirely on-brand for a player whose on-court acrobatics have earned him millions of global fans.

Introduced at Baselworld 2019, the ref. 126710BLNR represents a significant generational leap for the GMT-Master line. It houses Rolex's proprietary Calibre 3285, which debuted in this model, delivering a 70-hour power reserve, improved shock resistance via the Chronergy escapement in nickel-phosphorus alloy, and a bidirectional rotor for efficient winding. The 40 mm Oystersteel case is paired with an Oyster bracelet featuring the Easylink 5 mm comfort extension. The bidirectional rotating 24-hour graduated bezel in black and blue Cerachrom ceramic — resistant to scratching and UV fading — reads two time zones simultaneously, while a third can be tracked via the quickset date mechanism.

The 'Batman' nickname was first applied to the ref. 116710BLNR (2013), and the updated 126710BLNR inherited both the colorway and the cult status. Among collectors, this reference occupies a sweet spot: less polarising than the all-black 'Sprite' bezel and more versatile than the red-and-black 'Pepsi'. Wait lists at authorised dealers remain substantial, making grey-market premiums a persistent reality even years after launch.

Monfils has long been associated with high-end timepieces and streetwear-influenced styling. His off-court aesthetic leans into luxury with a deliberately casual attitude — exactly the spirit the GMT-Master II was designed for when Pan Am pilots first wore it across multiple time zones in the 1950s. Monfils wearing the watch stacked with bold jewellery reinforces that the GMT-Master II transcends its tool-watch origins.

On the secondary market, the 126710BLNR commands a meaningful premium above its retail price of $10,700, with grey-market platforms listing examples between $16,000 and $19,000 depending on condition and papers. For a player of Monfils's profile, the 'Batman' is a logical choice: globally recognised, technically serious, and just rebellious enough to suit his personality.