Watch Paparazzi

Singer Ed Sheeran spotted wearing Rolex

Ed Sheeran has been spotted wearing one of the most recognisable — and most sought-after — references in contemporary watchmaking: the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona ref. 116500LN in stainless steel with a white lacquer dial and Cerachrom ceramic bezel. The sighting underscores a pattern of increasingly serious horological choices from the Grammy-winning artist.

Debuted in 2016, the ref. 116500LN marked a genuine turning point for the Daytona lineage. Rolex replaced the previous generation's aluminium bezel insert with a black Cerachrom ceramic unit — scratch-resistant and impervious to UV fading — while simultaneously retiring the Valjoux-derived calibre 4130 predecessor. The movement inside the 116500LN is Rolex's own calibre 4130, a column-wheel chronograph with a vertical clutch, 72-hour power reserve, and chronometer certification to -2/+2 seconds per day. It is widely regarded as one of the finest in-house chronograph ebauches in production at any price point.

The 40mm Oyster case houses the dial configuration Sheeran is wearing: white lacquer registers on a white base, the so-called panda layout that traces its lineage directly to the Paul Newman Daytonas of the 1960s and '70s. Collectors have consistently rated the white-dial 116500LN as marginally harder to source than its black-dial counterpart, a dynamic that has kept secondary premiums elevated since the reference launched.

Sheeran is no casual watch wearer. The Suffolk-born singer-songwriter has previously been photographed with Patek Philippe and other high-complication pieces, suggesting genuine engagement with the category rather than purely image-driven acquisition. The Daytona, however, carries a certain universality — it is simultaneously a racing instrument, a status symbol, and a blue-chip asset, qualities that translate across demographics and industries.

On the market, the Rolex Daytona ref. 116500LN white dial carries an official UK list price of approximately £9,550, though authorised dealer waitlists remain notoriously long. On the grey market, demand has softened somewhat from pandemic-era peaks but still commands a substantial premium, with traded examples typically changing hands between $28,000 and $34,000 USD depending on condition, papers, and box. For a reference that retails under $15,000, that spread remains extraordinary — and shows no sign of structural collapse.