Watch Paparazzi

Footballer David Alaba spotted wearing Rolex

David Alaba, the versatile Bayern Munich defender and Austria national team captain, was photographed wearing what is unmistakably a Rolex Sky-Dweller in 18ct yellow gold — one of the most technically ambitious references the Geneva manufacturer produces. The sighting places Alaba firmly in the growing cohort of elite footballers who reach beyond the entry-level Sports models toward horological substance.

The Rolex Sky-Dweller Reference 326938 is powered by the Calibre 9001, a self-winding movement developed entirely in-house and featuring two of Rolex's own patented innovations: the Ring Command bezel, which allows the wearer to switch between three functions by rotating the fluted bezel, and the Saros annual calendar, which distinguishes between 30- and 31-day months automatically, requiring only a single correction per year in February. At 42mm in 18ct yellow gold, the case pairs with a matching yellow gold Oyster bracelet and a champagne-toned dial bearing Arabic numerals — the same configuration visible on Alaba's wrist.

Launched at Baselworld 2012, the Sky-Dweller was Rolex's first entirely new complication in over 25 years, and the watchmaking community took note. The model sits at the intersection of grand complication watchmaking and Rolex's legendary robustness, making it a credible rival to offerings from Patek Philippe and IWC at a fraction of the complexity cost. The full yellow gold execution, in particular, carries an aura reminiscent of the classic Datejust aesthetic but scaled up in both size and function.

Alaba's taste in timepieces aligns with his profile: technically accomplished, internationally recognised, and quietly luxurious. The Sky-Dweller's dual time zone function — displaying a second time zone via a 24-hour disc around the inner chapter ring — has obvious practical appeal for a player who regularly travels between Germany, Austria, and European away fixtures.

At official retail the 326938 commands approximately $47,850 USD in the United States, while grey market demand, driven by persistent Rolex supply constraints, pushes pre-owned examples closer to $55,000–$60,000 depending on condition and papers. For collectors, the full yellow gold Sky-Dweller remains one of the few Rolex references that delivers genuine horological complexity without the multi-year waitlist attached to steel sports variants.