Watch Paparazzi

Footballer Diego Godin spotted wearing Rolex

Diego Godin — the Uruguayan centre-back who anchored Diego Simeone's Atlético Madrid defence through two La Liga titles and a Champions League final run — was spotted on the wrist with a Rolex Cosmograph Daytona in stainless steel, reference 116520. The sighting is a natural fit: the Daytona, like Godin himself, projects composure and authority without needing to shout.

Introduced in 2000, the Rolex Daytona 116520 represented a landmark moment for the Swiss manufacturer. It was the first Daytona to house an in-house movement — the Calibre 4130, a column-wheel chronograph with a vertical clutch offering precise engagement and reduced movement under the pusher. The 40mm Oyster case in 904L stainless steel carries the iconic tachymetric bezel and a dial available in white or black variants, with three contrasting subdials at 3, 6, and 9 o'clock. Water resistance is rated to 100 metres. Production of the 116520 ran until approximately 2016, when it was succeeded by the 116500LN featuring a ceramic bezel.

Among collectors, the 116520 occupies hallowed ground. Its steel construction and in-house movement made it the first truly desirable Daytona for purists — previous references relied on the Zenith El Primero ebauche. The white-dial version in particular commands fervent attention on the secondary market, and pristine examples with original bracelet and box-and-papers remain benchmarks for steel chronograph collecting. Authorised dealer allocations were notoriously scarce throughout the reference's production run, fuelling grey-market premiums that at times tripled the retail figure.

Godin's affinity for the Daytona aligns with a generation of elite footballers who gravitate toward reference-grade sports watches rather than diamond-set novelties. The Uruguayan's on-pitch reputation for disciplined, cerebral defending translates off the pitch into a watch choice that rewards knowledge over spectacle.

With the 116520 now discontinued, retail pricing is a historical figure — the reference originally carried an RRP of approximately £7,950 in the UK market. On the grey market, well-preserved steel examples with full set documentation regularly trade between $18,000 and $25,000 depending on dial colour and condition, with white-dial pieces commanding the upper end of that range.