Footballer Blaise Matuidi spotted wearing a Rolex

Blaise Matuidi, French World Cup champion and current Inter Miami CF midfielder, was recently spotted wearing a highly customised timepiece born from his ongoing collaboration with Geneva-based aftermarket specialist Skeleton Concept. The watch in question is a Rolex GMT-Master II reference 116710LN, modified into a 40-piece limited edition that bears Matuidi's personal stamp in every detail.

The base watch, the Rolex GMT-Master II ref. 116710LN, needs little introduction. Launched in 2007, the 116710LN replaced the ref. 16710 and brought the GMT-Master II firmly into the modern Rolex era with a larger 40mm Oyster case in 904L stainless steel, a scratch-resistant Cerachrom bezel insert in monochromatic black, and the calibre 3186 movement — a COSC-certified self-winding manufacture movement offering a 48-hour power reserve, Parachrom hairspring, and Paraflex shock absorbers. The reference was discontinued in 2019 in favour of the 126710, making surviving examples increasingly sought-after on the secondary market.

Skeleton Concept's intervention on this particular 116710LN is extensive. The original dial has been entirely removed and replaced with a fully skeletonised construction, exposing the movement architecture beneath while adding a green-tinted outer ring — a nod to Matuidi's club colours and personal aesthetic. Most distinctively, the numeral 14, his jersey number across Juventus, Paris Saint-Germain, and the French national team, anchors the dial composition. The edition is limited to just 40 pieces, aligning the run with Matuidi's own significance in the game.

Matuidi, a Champions League finalist and World Cup winner with France in 2018, has long shown an affinity for bold personal accessories. His decision to commission a modified Rolex rather than simply wear a standard luxury piece speaks to a growing trend among elite athletes — using established horological icons as vehicles for individual expression rather than off-the-shelf status symbols.

The base Rolex GMT-Master II ref. 116710LN carried an original retail price of approximately $7,500 USD before its discontinuation. Grey-market demand for unmolested examples now sits significantly higher. This Skeleton Concept collaboration, however, operates in a different category entirely — Matuidi's limited edition is priced at $54,750 USD retail, reflecting the extensive hand-finishing, skeletonisation work, and exclusivity of the 40-piece run.