Watch Paparazzi

Actor Salman Khan spotted wearing Rolex

Salman Khan, one of Hindi cinema's most enduring and commercially dominant stars, has been photographed wearing a Rolex Cosmograph Daytona in two-tone stainless steel and 18ct yellow gold — a configuration that sits at the precise intersection of sportsman utility and classic luxury. The image, taken in what appears to be an intimate indoor setting, shows Khan resting his hands on a table, the Daytona clearly visible on his left wrist, its gold and steel Oyster bracelet catching the ambient light.

The watch bears all the hallmarks of the Reference 116523: a white lacquer dial with three contrasting black subsidiary chronograph registers, gold applied hour markers, a yellow gold tachymetre bezel, and the characteristic two-tone Oyster bracelet with alternating polished centre links and brushed outer links. Rolex introduced the 116523 in 2000, replacing the long-running 16523 and crucially upgrading the movement to the in-house calibre 4130 — a column-wheel, vertical clutch chronograph movement built entirely by Rolex, renowned for its reliability, smooth engagement, and 72-hour power reserve.

The Cosmograph Daytona takes its name from the Daytona International Speedway, and was originally designed for professional racing drivers requiring precise elapsed-time measurement. Despite its tool-watch origins, the Daytona evolved into one of the most coveted references in the secondary market, a position the two-tone 116523 has firmly occupied among collectors who appreciate the warmth of gold accents without the full weight — financial and aesthetic — of a solid gold case.

For Salman Khan, whose watch collection spans multiple Rolex references and luxury brands, the Daytona choice is telling. The 116523 represents establishment taste: not a flashy statement piece, but a watch that signals deep familiarity with the market. It is the choice of someone who understands horological currency.

On the grey market, the 116523 in steel and gold with white dial trades comfortably above its original retail price, typically fetching between $16,000 and $19,000 depending on condition, box, and papers — a figure consistent with the $17,000 valuation cited at the time of this sighting. Demand remains steady, driven by the enduring appeal of the two-tone aesthetic and the mechanical excellence of the calibre 4130.