Watch Paparazzi

Pilot Valentino Rossi spotted wearing Rolex

Valentino Rossi was photographed wearing a Rolex Cosmograph Daytona reference 116500LN in the period surrounding his final Gran Premio d'Italia, a fitting emotional backdrop for a watch that itself represents a definitive closing of one era and the opening of another. The nine-time World Champion — universally known as 'Il Dottore' — chose a piece that resonates well beyond its function as a racing chronograph.

Rolex introduced the Cosmograph Daytona 116500LN in 2016, replacing the long-running 116520 and marking the first time the Daytona wore a Cerachrom ceramic bezel. The black or white lacquered dial variants sit behind a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, while the case measures a classic 40mm in Oystersteel. Inside runs the Rolex Calibre 4130, an entirely in-house column-wheel chronograph movement with a vertical clutch, offering approximately 72 hours of power reserve and a frequency of 28,800 vph. The 4130 is widely regarded among collectors as one of the most reliable and technically accomplished chronograph ebauches in production today.

From a collector standpoint, the 116500LN occupies a singular position. Its 2016 debut essentially inaugurated the modern era of authorized dealer waitlists and grey-market premiums for steel sports Rolex references. Where the previous 116520 could be purchased with relative ease, the ceramic Daytona immediately commanded premiums of two to three times retail on the secondary market, a situation that persisted for years and fundamentally changed how the broader watch market perceived Rolex steel sports references.

Rossi's relationship with Rolex is well-established — the brand has long been associated with motorsport at the highest levels, and 'Il Dottore' represents exactly the archetype of ambassador the manufacture values: competitive, iconic, and internationally recognized across generations of fans.

On the current market, the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona 116500LN has seen grey-market prices moderate from their 2021-2022 peaks but remains significantly above its official retail price. Collectors continue to regard it as a benchmark steel chronograph, and its long-term desirability appears structurally intact.