Watch Paparazzi

Boxer Canelo Álvarez spotted wearing Rolex

Canelo Álvarez has built a reputation for arriving in style — inside the ring and out. The four-division world champion was recently spotted on the wrist with a Rolex Submariner Date reference 116613LB, the two-tone yellow gold and Oystersteel variant finished in striking blue. It is a choice that reads as understated by the standards of elite boxing culture, which makes it all the more deliberate.

The 116613LB was introduced in 2009 and produced until 2020, when Rolex replaced it with the generation-three reference 126613LB. It houses the Calibre 3135, a self-winding movement with a Parachrom hairspring, Paraflex shock absorbers, and a power reserve of approximately 48 hours. The 40mm Oyster case is rated to 300 metres water resistance and pairs Oystersteel on the bracelet centre links with 18-carat yellow gold on the outer links, bezel, and crown — Rolex's signature Rolesor construction. The blue Cerachrom ceramic bezel insert, introduced on this reference in place of the earlier aluminium insert, offers near-total resistance to fading and scratching.

Among collectors the 116613LB carries a specific nickname — the 'Bluesy' — and it earns genuine affection rather than the ironic admiration sometimes attached to flashier pieces. The two-tone Submariner has historically been dismissed in certain purist circles as the more accessible, less serious sibling of the full gold 116618LB. In practice, the grey market tells a different story: demand consistently outpaces authorised dealer supply, and examples in excellent condition hold value with unusual stubbornness.

Canelo Álvarez is one of the most commercially successful athletes in the sport, with a net worth reported north of $140 million. His watch choices have ranged from heavily iced custom pieces to significantly more restrained references, and the 116613LB lands firmly in the latter category. For someone with access to Patek Philippe grand complications and fully set Rolex Daytonas, choosing a stock two-tone Submariner signals familiarity with the market rather than impulse.

The 116613LB retailed at approximately $14,150 USD before its discontinuation. On the grey market, clean examples with box and papers continue to trade above retail, typically in the $16,000–$19,000 range depending on condition and year, reflecting the enduring appetite for Rolex's most iconic sports reference in its most visually immediate configuration.