Watch Paparazzi

Footballer Radja Nainggolan spotted wearing Rolex

Radja Nainggolan, the Belgian midfielder who carved out a reputation as one of Serie A's most combative and technically gifted players during his years at AS Roma, was spotted wearing a Rolex Datejust II in the two-tone Rolesor configuration — reference 116333 — a watch that quietly marks the end of an era in Rolex's modern catalogue.

The Datejust II ref. 116333 was introduced in 2009 as an update to the original Datejust II, stretching the classic Datejust format to 41mm to satisfy demand for larger sport-dress watches. Its case pairs 904L Oystersteel with 18K yellow gold on the fluted bezel, crown, and Jubilee bracelet centre links — the combination Rolex calls Rolesor. Under the caseback sits the calibre 3136, a self-winding movement beating at 28,800 vph with a Parachrom hairspring and a power reserve of approximately 50 hours. The sapphire crystal carries Rolex's familiar cyclops lens magnifying the date at 3 o'clock, and water resistance is rated to 100 metres.

Production of the ref. 116333 ended when Rolex launched the rationalised Datejust 41 (ref. 126333) in 2016, incorporating the newer calibre 3235. That discontinuation has given the 116333 a quiet collector following among buyers who prefer the 3136 movement's field-proven reliability and appreciate the slightly different proportion of the older case. Dial variants — including green, black, and champagne options — attract different premiums on the secondary market, with the green dial (sometimes noted as the GRO suffix) carrying particular visual appeal.

Nainggolan's taste in watches has always tracked toward the bold and the tangible. The two-tone Rolesor Datejust II fits a footballer of his profile precisely: recognisable enough to signal success, substantial enough on the wrist to hold its own against a playing career defined by physicality. It is not a subtle watch, and Nainggolan has never been a subtle footballer.

On the grey market, ref. 116333 examples in good condition trade across a wide range depending on dial and bracelet condition, but the model remains accessible relative to sports Rolex references. The original UK list price sat around £9,300, placing it firmly in the mid-tier of Rolex's dress-sport offering — strong value for a genuine two-metal, Swiss-manufacture automatic from the world's most recognised watchmaker.