Footballer Neymar Jr spotted wearing a Rolex

When Neymar Jr posted his farewell tribute to Lionel Messi on social media ahead of their respective departures from Paris Saint-Germain, football fans focused on the emotion of the moment. Watch observers locked onto his wrist: the Rolex Yacht-Master 42 reference 226679TBR, arguably the most diamond-intensive production Yacht-Master Rolex currently catalogues.

The 226679TBR is built on a 42 mm case in 18K white gold — Rolex designates this alloy 904L-adjacent in its case construction but uses its proprietary 18K white gold for the precious-metal models. The dial is factory-set with a pavé of brilliant-cut diamonds, and the treatment continues around the entire bezel and across the lugs, eliminating virtually every unadorned surface above the Oysterflex bracelet. That bracelet itself is a technical statement: a titanium and nickel alloy inner blade encased in black elastomer, offering flexibility without the traditional precious-metal bracelet's tendency to stretch. The movement inside is Rolex Calibre 3235, a third-generation perpetual rotor movement with the Chronergy escapement, 70-hour power reserve, and a +2/-2 seconds per day COSC-plus chronometric certification.

Collector context matters here. The Yacht-Master line launched in 1992 as a sportier, nautically flavoured companion to the Submariner, but precious-metal diamond variants like the 226679TBR occupy an entirely different bracket. This reference sits at the intersection of the brand's watchmaking credentials and its jewellery ambitions — a combination that tends to divide purists but commands consistent demand from high-net-worth buyers who want Rolex's technical pedigree without tonal restraint.

Neymar Jr has a long-documented affinity for heavily set timepieces, consistent with his broader aesthetic. His choice of the 226679TBR for a culturally significant post — bidding farewell to arguably the greatest footballer alive — signals deliberate styling rather than an afterthought.

On the market, the Rolex Yacht-Master 42 ref. 226679TBR carries an official list price of approximately $130,000. Grey-market values have pushed past that figure, with current secondary-market transactions reported around $150,000, reflecting steady demand for full-diamond Rolex references despite broader market corrections in steel sports models over the past 18 months.