Watch Paparazzi

Footballer Zlatan Ibrahimovic spotted wearing Rolex

Zlatan Ibrahimovic, then turning out for Manchester United, was photographed wearing a Rolex Cosmograph Daytona reference 116500LN — the ceramic-bezel iteration that redefined the modern sports chronograph when it debuted at Baselworld 2016. The rubber strap fitment gives the piece a purposeful, athletic edge consistent with Ibrahimovic's off-pitch aesthetic.

The Daytona 116500LN is built around Rolex's in-house Calibre 4130, a column-wheel chronograph movement with a vertical clutch that delivers smooth, instant engagement and a power reserve of approximately 72 hours. The 40 mm Oystersteel case houses a black or white dial — the black variant in particular became one of the most coveted references in modern watchmaking — protected by a scratch-resistant black Cerachrom bezel whose tachymeter scale is filled with platinum-coated lacquer. Water resistance sits at 100 metres, and the movement is certified as a Superlative Chronometer, accurate to ±2 seconds per day.

The 116500LN replaced the long-running 116520, which had used an aluminium-insert bezel and an externally sourced Zenith-based ebauche. The transition to an entirely in-house manufacture movement and a ceramic bezel marked a generational leap for the Daytona line — one that collectors recognised immediately. Waiting lists at authorised dealers stretched to years almost overnight, transforming a watch with a modest official price into one of the grey market's most reliable stores of value.

Ibrahimovic's choice of the Daytona is unsurprising. The reference draws a natural audience among elite athletes who want horological credibility without sacrificing wrist presence. The rubber strap — likely an aftermarket or Rolex-issued OEM Oysterflex-style option — reinforces the sporty brief and suits the wrist of a man standing 195 cm tall.

On the secondary market, the 116500LN has consistently commanded two to three times its retail price, with the black-dial version typically commanding a premium over the white. Retail in the UK at the time of the sighting was listed at £9,100, but grey-market transactions in USD regularly land between $28,000 and $36,000 depending on dial colour, condition, and whether the full set is present. For a reference still in production, that premium is remarkable — and shows no sign of collapsing.