Watch Paparazzi

Entrepreneur Nasser Al-khelaifi spotted wearing Rolex

Nasser Al-Khelaifi, chairman of beIN Media Group and president of Paris Saint-Germain, was recently spotted wearing an 18kt white gold Rolex Cosmograph Daytona reference 116509 fitted with a blue dial — a combination that sits at a precise intersection of understatement and luxury.

The Rolex Cosmograph Daytona ref. 116509 entered production in the mid-2000s as part of Rolex's expanded precious-metal Daytona lineup. Its defining feature is the calibre 4130, the fully in-house automatic chronograph movement Rolex introduced in 2000 to replace the Zenith El Primero-based calibre 4030. The 4130 runs at 28,800 vph, offers a 72-hour power reserve, and uses a vertical clutch with column wheel for precise chronograph engagement — a movement that significantly elevated Rolex's standing among serious collectors. The white gold case measures 40mm, and the ref. 116509 wears the smooth bezel variant, distinguishing it from the diamond-set 116519LN iterations frequently seen on athletes and entertainers.

The blue dial configuration on the 116509 is among the most coveted in the reference's production run. Against white gold, the blue registers as cooler and more architectural than it does on yellow or Everose gold cases, lending the watch a reserved formality that translates equally well in a boardroom or a stadium director's box. Collectors have long regarded the smooth-bezel white gold Daytona as the purist's precious-metal choice — less ostentatious than its diamond counterparts, yet unambiguously high-specification.

Al-Khelaifi's wrist credentials are consistent with his profile. As the man who has steered PSG through the era of Neymar, Mbappé, and Messi signings — and who chairs one of the Arab world's most influential sports media empires — his watch choices tend toward the authoritative rather than the flashy. The 116509 fits that persona precisely.

On the market, the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona ref. 116509 carries a UK list price of approximately £28,850. On the secondary market, demand for white gold Daytonas with coloured dials remains firm, with grey-market premiums keeping transaction prices meaningfully above retail — a reflection of both Rolex's controlled supply and the enduring desirability of the Daytona name among collectors worldwide.