Watch Paparazzi

Footballer Neymar Jr spotted wearing Rolex

Neymar Jr, one of the most recognisable footballers on the planet, was recently spotted with a Rolex Oyster Perpetual 41 ref. 126000 on his wrist — specifically the now-discontinued turquoise blue 'Tiffany' dial variant, a reference that has achieved near-mythical status in the collector community despite, or perhaps because of, its extremely brief production run.

Rolex introduced the updated Oyster Perpetual 41 ref. 126000 in 2020, bringing with it the new Calibre 3230 movement — a significant technical step forward featuring the Chronergy escapement, a paramagnetic nickel-phosphorus lever and escape wheel, and an extended 70-hour power reserve. The case measures 41 mm in Oystersteel, fitted with a domed sapphire crystal and the brand's signature Oyster bracelet with the Easylink extension system. The turquoise dial, officially listed by Rolex simply as a colour option, drew immediate and overwhelming comparisons to the iconic Tiffany blue associated with the legendary jeweller — and the nickname stuck permanently.

The Oyster Perpetual family carries genuine historical weight: when Rolex introduced the original Oyster in 1926, it became the world's first waterproof wristwatch, a milestone that shaped the entire Swiss watch industry. The ref. 126000 sits at the entry point of the Rolex catalogue, but the turquoise dial elevated it far beyond its positioning. Rolex discontinued the colourway after little more than a year in production, and that scarcity, combined with the broader cultural moment around the Patek Philippe Tiffany & Co. ref. 5711 in 2021, cemented turquoise as the defining dial colour of the early 2020s watch market.

Neymar has long maintained a high-profile relationship with luxury watches, regularly photographed with significant pieces from Rolex, Richard Mille, and beyond. His choice of the Oyster Perpetual 41 ref. 126000 in turquoise reads as genuinely considered — this is not the most expensive Rolex in the catalogue, but in this specific dial configuration it is one of the most culturally loaded references the brand has produced in recent memory.

On the secondary market, the turquoise dial ref. 126000 commands a substantial premium over its modest retail price. Grey market values have remained elevated well above retail since the reference was discontinued, reflecting persistent demand and extremely limited supply — a pattern that shows little sign of reversing.