Watch Paparazzi

Footballer Diego Maradona spotted wearing Rolex

Few watch sightings carry the mythological weight of Diego Maradona wearing not one but two stainless steel Rolex Daytona ref. 116520s on the same wrist. The image, circulated widely among collectors and football fans alike, encapsulates the Argentine icon's larger-than-life personality as precisely as any goal he ever scored.

The Rolex Daytona reference 116520 was introduced in 2000 and represented a watershed moment for the model: it was the first Daytona to house Rolex's own manufacture movement, the Calibre 4130. That self-winding column-wheel chronograph movement, beating at 28,800 vph with a 72-hour power reserve, replaced the trusted but outsourced Zenith El Primero-based Calibre 4030. The white dial variant Maradona favoured features the contrasting black sub-registers that would become the ref. 116520's most iconic visual signature. The case measures 40mm in Oystersteel with a tachymetre bezel and screw-down pushers, delivering genuine water resistance to 100 metres.

Rotlex discontinued the 116520 in 2016 when the reference 116500LN — featuring a ceramic bezel — succeeded it. That discontinuation transformed the 116520 from a desirable sports watch into a serious collector's piece almost overnight. Among the white-dial versions, originality of the tritium or luminova plots, absence of service dials, and condition of the bracelet clasp drive significant price differentiation on the secondary market. Owning one is a statement; wearing two simultaneously is, frankly, an entirely different conversation.

Maradona's relationship with luxury timepieces was well documented throughout his career and post-retirement life. He wore watches the way he played football — with excess, with theatre, and without apology. The 'Maradona Style' double-stack has been referenced by collectors and watch media repeatedly since his passing in November 2020, cementing the ref. 116520 white dial as permanently linked to his legacy.

On the grey market, the stainless steel Rolex Daytona 116520 with white dial commands strong premiums over its original retail price, reflecting both its discontinued status and the enduring cultural cachet that sightings like this one only reinforce.