Footballer Bukayo Saka spotted wearing a Rolex

Wimbledon provided the backdrop for this sighting: Bukayo Saka, Arsenal's talismanic winger and England international, was photographed courtside wearing what is arguably the most desirable two-tone bezel GMT in current production. The venue and the watch share a certain understated prestige — both require either a serious pedigree or serious money to access.

The watch is the Rolex GMT-Master II reference 126715CHNR, introduced in 2018 and constructed entirely in Rolex's proprietary 18ct Everose gold alloy — an in-house formulation that resists fading better than standard rose gold. The 40mm Oyster case houses the Calibre 3285, a manufacture movement featuring a Chronergy escapement, Parachrom hairspring, and a 70-hour power reserve — a significant upgrade over the 3186 it replaced. The bidirectional 24-hour bezel insert is crafted from Cerachrom ceramic in a two-tone brown-and-black configuration, a technical feat that required Rolex engineers to develop a process for firing two colours in a single piece. The bracelet is the five-link Oyster in matching Everose, secured by Rolex's Oysterlock folding clasp with Easylink comfort extension.

The 'Root Beer' nickname has attached itself to brown-bezel GMT-Masters since the ref. 16753 of the 1980s, which paired a steel case with gold accents and a brown-and-gold insert. The 126715CHNR abandons any steel entirely, placing it firmly in the luxury tier of the GMT family. Collectors regard it as a low-production, high-demand reference — Rolex has never published figures, but grey-market premiums consistently confirm its scarcity.

Saka, 22, has cultivated a reputation for considered style choices off the pitch. Spotted here with an access lanyard suggesting a guest or sponsor appearance at Wimbledon, the choice of the Root Beer aligns with a broader trend among Premier League footballers gravitating toward full precious-metal Rolex sports references rather than diamond-set dress watches.

At retail, the 126715CHNR lists at approximately $41,550 USD, a price point that already places it well above most of the GMT family. On the secondary market, authenticated examples trade between $55,000 and $65,000 depending on condition and paperwork, reflecting sustained collector demand that shows no sign of softening.