Watch Paparazzi

Footballer Marouane Fellaini spotted wearing Rolex

Marouane Fellaini was photographed looking sharp after a fresh trim, the kind of off-duty moment that routinely reveals the most considered pieces in a footballer's collection. On his wrist sat a stainless steel Rolex GMT-Master II reference 126710BLRO — one of the most talked-about modern Rolex references of the past decade, and a watch that carries genuine horological significance well beyond its celebrity appearances.

Rolex introduced the 126710BLRO at Baselworld 2018 alongside the 126710BLNR 'Batman,' and it represented a landmark return. The red-and-blue ceramic 'Pepsi' bezel — rendered in Rolex's proprietary Cerachrom material — had previously been reserved exclusively for white gold since 2005. Collectors and enthusiasts had spent thirteen years waiting for steel, and the 126710BLRO delivered. The watch runs on the calibre 3285, a movement Rolex developed specifically for the GMT-Master II line, offering a 70-hour power reserve, a Chronergy escapement for improved efficiency, and a quick-set independent GMT hand — an essential feature for any serious traveller.

The 41mm Oyster case houses a twin time-zone display via the 24-hour bidirectional rotating bezel, while the matte black dial keeps legibility clean across all conditions. Crucially, Fellaini's example sits on the Jubilee bracelet — a five-piece link design with a concealed Oysterclasp that was reintroduced for the 126710BLRO at launch, adding a dressy, vintage-inflected character that complements the Pepsi colour scheme in a way the Oyster bracelet simply cannot match.

Fellaini, who built a career on physical presence and technical commitment at Everton, Manchester United, and later Shandong Taishan in China, has long shown a preference for substantial, well-engineered objects — and the GMT-Master II fits that profile exactly. The 126710BLRO is a tool watch that carries itself with authority, a quality the Belgian international understood well on and off the pitch.

At retail the 126710BLRO carried a UK list price of approximately £7,150 at time of sighting, translating to roughly $9,000 USD. Grey-market demand, however, has consistently pushed transaction prices significantly higher, with authorised dealer waiting lists effectively making the open market the only realistic route for most buyers.