Watch Paparazzi

Cricketer Virat Kohli spotted wearing Rolex

Virat Kohli, one of the most recognisable athletes on the planet and a man whose wrist real estate is watched almost as closely as his batting average, was recently photographed wearing a Rolex Datejust 36 in stainless steel with a blue dial, mounted on the iconic Jubilee bracelet — reference 126234. The sighting is consistent with Kohli's established taste for classics over complications, favouring timeless form over horological spectacle.

The Rolex Datejust 36 ref. 126234 represents the current-generation iteration of what is arguably the most historically significant dress watch Rolex has ever produced. Introduced in 1945 to mark the brand's 40th anniversary, the Datejust was the first self-winding wristwatch to display the date in a window at 3 o'clock — a feature so influential it became industry shorthand for the entire category. The 126234 replaced the outgoing 116234 in 2021, bringing with it the Calibre 3235 movement: a COSC-certified automatic beating at 28,800 vph, with a 70-hour power reserve, a paramagnetic blue Parachrom hairspring, and Rolex's Chronergy escapement. The blue sunray-brushed dial paired with a smooth bezel keeps the dial clean and legible, while the five-link Jubilee bracelet — itself a 1945 original — adds a dressy suppleness to the wrist feel.

Among collectors, the 126234 occupies a curious but respected middle ground. It is neither the entry-level Oyster Perpetual nor the high-complications Daytona, yet it arguably demands the most considered taste to choose. The blue dial variant with Jubilee bracelet is widely considered the most balanced and historically faithful configuration, referencing the earliest Datejust aesthetics while benefiting from thoroughly modern engineering.

Kohli's watch collection is well-documented and ranges from Richard Mille to Patek Philippe, but his return to the Datejust signals an appreciation for restraint. For an athlete who competes under enormous public scrutiny, choosing a ref. 126234 over something louder reads as a deliberate statement.

At UK list price of approximately £6,800 — translating to roughly $8,600 USD at retail — the Rolex Datejust 36 ref. 126234 sits at a premium on the grey market, where demand for steel Datejust models with blue dials has remained stable. Expect to pay close to or slightly above retail in current market conditions, a reflection of Rolex's tightly controlled authorised dealer allocations.