Watch Paparazzi

American football player Antonio Brown spotted wearing Rolex

Antonio Brown, the polarizing but undeniably talented NFL wide receiver who suited up for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, recently surfaced wearing a one-of-a-kind custom Rolex Submariner ref. 116610LV executed by Skeleton Concept, the after-market atelier known for surgical dial modifications on high-value Swiss pieces. The build was a direct collaboration with Brown, making it a true athlete-commissioned piece rather than a shelf modification.

The base reference is significant on its own. The Rolex Submariner 116610LV — universally known in collector circles as the 'Hulk' — ran in production from 2010 to 2020, distinguished by its monochromatic green dial and matching green Cerachrom bezel insert in black ceramic's green variant. It houses Rolex's Calibre 3135, a self-winding movement with a 48-hour power reserve, Parachrom hairspring, and chronometric certification to +/-2 seconds per day. The 40mm Oystersteel case with Oyster bracelet and Glidelock extension made it the definitive professional diver of its era.

Skeleton Concept's intervention on Brown's piece is extensive. The dial has been fully skeletonized, removing the solid face to reveal the beating Calibre 3135 beneath — a modification that demands precise re-regulation and finishing to maintain accuracy. Orange detailing has been applied to the second hand, the date wheel digit at the '12' position (referencing Brown's jersey number), the winding crown, the open exhibition caseback rotor, and reportedly the strap hardware. The result is a watch that reads instantly as a personal artifact rather than a commercial product.

Brown's relationship with watches has always matched his on-field persona — visible, expensive, and unapologetic. A Submariner customization of this depth signals genuine engagement with watch culture beyond simple status purchasing, suggesting someone who wanted a wearable signature rather than a shelf trophy.

On the market, the discontinued Rolex Submariner 116610LV commands serious grey-market premiums. Before any customization, examples trade between $18,000 and $22,000 depending on condition and box-and-papers status. Skeleton Concept's commissions typically add $8,000 to $15,000 in modification cost depending on complexity. Brown's fully skeletonized, athlete-personalized example exists outside standard pricing entirely — a unique object with a value tied as much to provenance as to the underlying reference.