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Footballer James Rodriguez spotted wearing Rolex

James Rodriguez, the Colombian playmaker who had just delivered one of the most celebrated World Cup performances in recent memory before joining Real Madrid, was photographed wearing a Rolex Submariner Date Reference 116613LB — the two-tone 'Bluesy' configuration that pairs 18k yellow gold with Oystersteel and a vivid blue dial.

The Rolex Submariner Date 116613LB sits at the crossroads of professional dive watch and luxury statement piece. Its 40mm Oyster case combines 904L stainless steel with 18k yellow gold on the crown guards, bezel, and Oyster bracelet centre links. The defining feature is the blue Cerachrom ceramic bezel insert, introduced across the Submariner line with the 116610 generation in 2010, offering near-scratch-proof performance and UV resistance that older aluminium inserts simply could not match. Power comes from the Calibre 3135, Rolex's in-house perpetual movement with a 48-hour power reserve, Parachrom hairspring, and chronometer certification — a movement that has been a cornerstone of the brand's sport lineup for decades.

Among collectors, the 116613LB occupies a sweet spot. The two-tone Submariner has a lineage stretching back to the 1980s references 16613 and earlier, making it a recognisable archetype rather than a niche sub-variant. The ceramic-bezel update resolved the one durability criticism long levelled at gold Submariners, and the blue dial against gold indices and hands gives the watch a presence that reads clearly both on the wrist and on camera.

For a footballer of Rodriguez's profile — global sponsorship deals, a wardrobe built for visibility — the 116613LB makes precise sense. It is loud enough to register, but it carries the institutional weight of Rolex behind it rather than reading as a purely fashion-forward choice. The 'Bluesy' nickname alone signals familiarity within watch culture, suggesting a wearer who knows what he has on his wrist.

The 116613LB carried a UK RRP of approximately £8,000 during its production run, which concluded when Rolex introduced the 41mm 126613LB in 2020. On the grey market, pre-owned examples in good condition have commanded premiums above retail for several years, with desirable full-set specimens routinely trading above the $15,000 mark depending on condition and provenance.