Footballer Mesut Özil spotted wearing a Rolex

Mesut Özil, the former Arsenal and Real Madrid playmaker widely regarded as one of the most technically gifted midfielders of his generation, was recently photographed wearing the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona Platinum, reference 116506 — a watch that occupies a singular position at the very top of Rolex's production hierarchy.

Introduced in 2013 at Baselworld, the Daytona Ref. 116506 holds the distinction of being the first and only Daytona ever produced in 950 platinum. Rolex reserved the signature ice blue dial — a color exclusive to the brand's platinum pieces — for this reference, giving it an immediately recognizable identity. The dial features a tachymetric scale rendered in platinum and subsidiary registers in a slightly contrasting tone, lending the watch a cool, understated elegance that sets it apart from its steel and gold siblings.

Beneath the 40mm platinum case beats the Rolex caliber 4130, the manufacture movement that Rolex developed entirely in-house and introduced with the modern Daytona era. The 4130 features a column wheel, vertical clutch, and a COSC-certified chronograph architecture with a 72-hour power reserve — widely considered one of the most reliable and serviceable chronograph movements in the industry. The oyster bracelet and triplock crown complete a package built to Rolex's most exacting tolerances.

Among collectors, the 116506 carries substantial weight. Platinum Daytonas surface infrequently on the secondary market, and their scarcity — combined with an already extraordinary list price — means they rarely trade below retail. The reference commands genuine respect in collector circles, not as a fashion piece but as a technical and material statement within the Daytona lineage.

Özil's affinity for high-end timepieces is well documented. The former German international has been photographed with a range of serious references over the years, and the Daytona Ref. 116506 fits squarely within that pattern — a watch chosen by someone who understands what it represents, not simply what it costs. At a retail price of approximately $100,000, the platinum Daytona is not a casual acquisition. On the grey market, expect to pay a meaningful premium above that figure.