Watch Paparazzi

Footballer Erling Haaland spotted wearing Rolex

Spotted during his Borussia Dortmund days, a young Erling Haaland was photographed wearing a Rolex Submariner Date 'Smurf' — reference 116619LB — dressed in a Balmain tracksuit and wearing the all-blue diver with the casual confidence of someone who clearly knew what he had on his wrist. The pairing of sportswear and a six-figure timepiece is very much a modern footballer aesthetic, but the watch itself transcends trends.

Introduced at BaselWorld 2008, the Submariner Date 116619LB rewrote what a Rolex diver could be. The 40mm case is crafted entirely in 18k white gold — a first for the Submariner line — and pairs with Rolex's proprietary blue Cerachrom ceramic bezel insert, virtually scratch-proof and UV-resistant. The deep blue sunray-brushed dial carries large rectangular and circular luminescent hour markers filled with Chromalight, Rolex's long-duration blue-emitting lume. Water resistance is rated to 300 metres, powered by the in-house Calibre 3135 automatic movement, a COSC-certified chronometer with a 48-hour power reserve and Rolex's Parachrom hairspring for shock and magnetic resistance.

For collectors, the 116619LB occupies a unique position. It is the only Submariner in the modern catalogue to combine white gold with a monochromatic blue treatment — no two-tone, no yellow gold. That singularity, combined with the cachet of white gold construction, makes it a serious piece rather than merely a status symbol. The Cerachrom bezel replaced the earlier aluminium insert, improving long-term legibility and durability significantly.

Haaland's watch choices have consistently reflected a taste for classic, high-spec horology rather than flashy complications. The Smurf suits him: understated to the uninitiated, immediately legible to anyone who knows Rolex. It signals taste without requiring explanation — fitting for a forward whose game relies on precision over showmanship.

On the market, the 116619LB presents an interesting anomaly. Despite its solid-gold construction and elevated retail, the grey market has historically priced it below list — a consequence of lower collector demand compared to the steel Submariner. That dynamic makes the Smurf arguably one of the better value propositions in the white gold sports-watch segment, offering genuine precious-metal construction at a relative discount to comparably spec'd pieces from other marques.