Watch Paparazzi

Footballer Zlatan Ibrahimovic spotted wearing Rolex

Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the Swedish striker whose career has spanned Ajax, Juventus, Inter Milan, Barcelona, PSG, Manchester United, LA Galaxy, and AC Milan, was recently photographed wearing a Rolex Submariner Date reference 116610LV — the watch the collector community has universally nicknamed the 'Hulk.' For a player long defined by outsized personality and physical dominance, the choice of wrist wear is entirely on-brand.

The Rolex Submariner 'Hulk' ref. 116610LV was produced from 2010 to 2020 and represented a deliberate chromatic statement from Geneva. Unlike the standard black-dial Submariner ref. 116610LN, the 116610LV paired an intense sunburst green dial with a matching green anodised aluminium Cerachrom bezel insert — the last Submariner to use aluminium rather than ceramic for the bezel. The 40mm Oystersteel case houses the calibre 3135 automatic movement, a workhorse with 48-hour power reserve, Parachrom hairspring, and chronometer certification. Water resistance sits at 300 metres.

Its discontinuation in 2020, when Rolex introduced the updated 41mm ref. 126610LV 'Starbucks' with a black-and-green ceramic bezel, immediately cemented the Hulk's collector status. The aluminium green bezel — once considered divisive — is now precisely what serious buyers seek out. A full green aesthetic that Rolex will almost certainly never replicate gives the 116610LV a closed chapter appeal that drives sustained demand on the secondary market.

Ibrahimovic has consistently displayed sophisticated taste in timepieces throughout his career, favouring iconic references over flashier bespoke pieces. The Hulk suits his aesthetic well: it reads as a serious watch to those who know, while projecting unmistakable presence to those who don't — a dynamic Zlatan has navigated effortlessly for two decades in professional football.

On the grey market, the Rolex Submariner 'Hulk' ref. 116610LV continues to command a significant premium over its original retail price of approximately $9,550 USD. Post-discontinuation demand has pushed pre-owned examples consistently into the $16,000–$19,000 range depending on condition, box, and papers, with pristine full-set examples occasionally breaching $20,000. For a watch that retailed under ten thousand dollars, that trajectory tells its own story.