Footballer Yaya Toure spotted wearing a Rolex

Yaya Toure, the Ivorian midfielder who spent the defining years of his career powering Manchester City to multiple Premier League titles, was spotted wearing a Rolex Yacht-Master 40 in 18kt Everose gold, reference 116655 — one of the most cohesive and technically refined expressions in the current Yacht-Master lineup.

The Yacht-Master ref. 116655 is built entirely from Rolex's proprietary Everose gold, a platinum-enriched 18kt rose gold alloy developed by the brand to maintain its warm pink hue over the long term without surface fade. The 40mm Oyster case pairs with a matching Everose gold Oysterflex bracelet — a vulcanised elastomer strap with a titanium and nickel alloy metal blade insert — giving the watch a sportier, more wrist-conforming fit than a traditional metal bracelet. The bidirectional rotatable bezel features a raised hour markers and numerals in platinum, providing clear legibility and a pleasing tonal contrast against the rose gold dial. Inside sits the Calibre 3235, Rolex's current-generation workhorse: a self-winding movement with a Chronergy escapement, 70-hour power reserve, and COSC-plus accuracy certified to ±2 seconds per day.

From a collector standpoint, the 116655 occupies a specific and well-appreciated niche. Full precious-metal sports watches from Rolex tend to hold value robustly, and the combination of Everose gold with the Oysterflex — first introduced on this reference — makes it a landmark piece in the Yacht-Master lineage. It is not a watch that shouts; the warmth of the rose gold does its work quietly.

Toure's watch sensibility tracks with his on-pitch persona: technically accomplished, physically imposing, quietly authoritative. A player who won the African Player of the Year award four consecutive times between 2011 and 2014 and drove City's 2011–12 title campaign with a remarkable run of decisive goals, he has the career capital to match the wrist real estate.

The Rolex Yacht-Master 40 ref. 116655 carries an official UK list price of £18,350. On the grey market, demand for full Everose Rolex sports references keeps secondary pricing firm, typically trading at or slightly above retail depending on condition and documentation.