Footballer Cristiano Ronaldo spotted wearing a Rolex

Cristiano Ronaldo was photographed giving a double thumbs-up while wearing what appears to be a Rolex Cosmograph Daytona in 18ct yellow gold, fitted with a full rainbow baguette-sapphire bezel and a striking brown mother-of-pearl dial. The sighting immediately sparked debate within the collector community: Rolex has produced the Rainbow Daytona in yellow gold (ref. 116598RBOW) with a black or dark dial, but a mother-of-pearl version in this configuration is exceptionally rare, leading some experts to question whether the bezel is factory-original or a premium aftermarket modification by specialists such as Artisans de Genève or similar houses.

The reference 116598RBOW — the yellow gold Rainbow Daytona — houses Rolex's in-house calibre 4130, a column-wheel chronograph movement with a vertical clutch, offering approximately 72 hours of power reserve. The 40mm Oyster case in 18ct yellow gold is polished to mirror standard, and the Oyster bracelet with deployant clasp completes a fully integrated precious-metal package. The rainbow bezel itself features 36 baguette-cut sapphires graduating through the full visible spectrum, hand-set at the Geneva manufacture.

From a collector standpoint, the Rainbow Daytona is one of the most aggressively allocated references in Rolex's catalogue. Authorized dealer waitlists are effectively closed, and grey-market premiums remain some of the highest in the watch world — routinely trading at three to four times retail. A mother-of-pearl dial variant, whether factory or custom, elevates the conversation further: fewer than a handful of documented examples exist with confirmed factory MOP dials in this configuration, making provenance research genuinely interesting.

Ronaldo's watch collection is well-documented and spans brands including Jacob & Co, Franck Muller, and Rolex. He has been spotted in rainbow-bezeled pieces on multiple occasions, consistent with a preference for jewellery-grade complications that sit at the intersection of haute horlogerie and luxury accessories. The Portuguese forward's taste runs toward bold, high-visibility pieces — and a yellow gold Rainbow Daytona with an iridescent dial is nothing if not a statement.

At retail, the 116598RBOW lists in the region of $75,000–$85,000 depending on configuration and market. On the secondary market, yellow gold Rainbow Daytonas regularly clear $150,000–$200,000, with rare dial variants commanding a meaningful premium above that. Whether factory or bespoke, the watch on Ronaldo's wrist represents a six-figure horological conversation piece that rewards careful scrutiny.