Royal Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani spotted wearing a Rolex

Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani, younger brother of the Emir of Qatar and one of the Gulf region's most prominent sporting figures, was photographed wearing a stainless steel Rolex GMT-Master II reference 126710BLNR on its Jubilee bracelet — the configuration that effectively defined the most talked-about Rolex release of 2019.

Introduced at Baselworld 2019, the GMT-Master II ref. 126710BLNR marked a pivotal moment for the reference. For the first time, Rolex paired the iconic black-and-blue 'Batman' CERACHROM bezel insert — a ceramic bi-colour construction that debuted in 2013 on the Oyster bracelet-only ref. 116710BLNR — with the 20-link Jubilee bracelet, previously associated with dress-oriented Rolex models. The 40mm Oystersteel case houses the Calibre 3285, an in-house movement featuring a Chronergy escapement, 70-hour power reserve, and GMT complication allowing independent setting of the 24-hour hand. It is a measurable technical improvement over the older Calibre 3186.

From a collector perspective, the 126710BLNR occupies a unique position. The 'Batman' designation had already earned strong aftermarket premiums on the outgoing 116710BLNR, but the addition of the Jubilee bracelet on the newer reference created something of a grail configuration. The Jubilee wears smaller on the wrist despite the identical 40mm case, offering a dressier silhouette that broadens the watch's appeal beyond the tool-watch purist. Waiting lists at authorised dealers remain substantial years after its release.

Sheikh Joaan is well known internationally as president of the Qatar Olympic Committee and a central figure in Qatar's ambitious global sports strategy. His watch choices tend to reflect an understated pragmatism rather than overt ostentation — the 126710BLNR, despite its grey-market premiums, retails in accessible five-figure territory and reads as a working sports watch first, status symbol second. That balance suits his public profile.

At UK list price of approximately £7,150 — translating to roughly $9,000 USD at launch — the Rolex GMT-Master II ref. 126710BLNR has consistently traded well above retail on the secondary market. Grey-market values have fluctuated but have remained comfortably above list, reflecting sustained demand that shows little sign of cooling as supply from authorised dealers stays tight.