Footballer Jamie Carragher spotted wearing a Rolex

Jamie Carragher, the former Liverpool FC centre-back turned outspoken Sky Sports pundit, was recently spotted wearing a Rolex Cosmograph Daytona in stainless steel, reference 116520 — one of the most consequential sports watches of the past quarter-century and a piece that long outlived its official retail price in collector esteem.

Introduced at Baselworld 2000, the Rolex Daytona ref. 116520 represented a genuine turning point for the manufacture. For the first time, Rolex replaced the legendary Zenith El Primero-based calibre 4030 with a movement developed entirely in-house: the calibre 4130. That automatic chronograph movement — featuring a column wheel, vertical clutch, and a 72-hour power reserve — is widely regarded as one of the finest chronograph ebauches in modern watchmaking. Its architecture delivers a cleaner, more precise engagement than the lateral clutch systems used by many competitors, and it runs at 28,800 vph. Paired with a 40mm Oyster case in 904L steel, a screw-down pushers system, and either a white or black dial with contrasting subdials, the 116520 became the definitive steel Daytona of its generation.

From a collector standpoint, the 116520 occupies a particularly interesting position. It was discontinued around 2016 when Rolex introduced the ref. 116500LN with a ceramic bezel, instantly rendering the aluminium-bezelled 116520 a closed series. That discontinuation drove secondary market values significantly above the already-low original retail price. Steel examples with black dials command a premium over white-dial versions, while unpolished cases and original bracelets with documented service history attract the most serious buyers.

Carragher, who spent his entire professional career at Liverpool before retiring in 2013, has built a second act as one of British football's most credible television analysts alongside Gary Neville on Monday Night Football. Off-camera, his taste in watches has leaned toward the kind of understated, sports-oriented luxury that the steel Daytona exemplifies — no flashy complications, just an enduring chronograph with a racing pedigree.

On the grey market, the Rolex Daytona ref. 116520 in stainless steel currently trades between roughly $18,000 and $25,000 depending on dial colour, condition, and provenance — a multiple of the original UK list price of £7,950. It remains one of the most liquid pre-owned Rolex references available, a fact that confirms both its desirability and its status as a benchmark sports watch.