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Footballer Allan Saint Maximin spotted wearing Rolex

Allan Saint-Maximin, the French winger whose dribbling repertoire made him one of the Premier League's most watchable players during his time at Newcastle United, was recently spotted on the wrist with one of Rolex's most unapologetically lavish references — the GMT-Master II 126755SARU in 18K Everose gold.

The 126755SARU sits at the very top of the GMT-Master II product tree. Built on the calibre 3285 movement — a 70-hour power reserve, Chronergy escapement, and Parachrom hairspring — the technical foundations are pure tool-watch Rolex. What separates this reference from the standard GMT lineup is what happens above the dial. Rolex's gem-setting workshops have set 29 round brilliant-cut diamonds and 30 sapphires directly into the iconic two-tone bezel insert surround, replicating the blue and black colour palette of the 'Batman' configuration in precious stones rather than ceramic. The dial itself is fully paved with diamonds, leaving no flat surface unadorned. Case diameter holds at 40mm, and the Jubilee bracelet in Everose gold completes a package that weighs as much emotionally as it does physically.

From a collector standpoint, the 126755SARU occupies a niche that traditional Rolex purists largely ignore and a separate, equally serious collector base actively pursues. Factory gem-set Rolex pieces — as opposed to aftermarket diamond modifications — carry full manufacturer provenance, original certification, and, crucially, resale integrity that aftermarket jobs cannot replicate. The sapphire-and-diamond bezel combination on this reference is assembled in-house in Geneva, making it a genuine manufacture product rather than a jeweller's commission.

Saint-Maximin has consistently leaned into high-visibility personal style throughout his career, and a watch retailing at £85,000 (approximately $107,000 USD at current rates) aligns squarely with the aesthetic he projects both on and off the pitch. Now plying his trade away from the Premier League spotlight, the wrist game evidently remains undiminished.

On the grey market, the 126755SARU commands a significant premium over list given its extremely limited production volume. Factory gem-set Rolex references in precious metal rarely appear in secondary market supply at scale, and when they do, buyers expect to pay well above retail. This is a watch that functions simultaneously as horology, jewellery, and a very specific kind of personal branding.