Watch Paparazzi

Royal Mette Marit spotted wearing Rolex

Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway was photographed at a public engagement wearing her well-documented personal Rolex Cosmograph Daytona in 18-carat white gold, a watch she has been seen with on multiple occasions — enough to earn it the informal designation of her 'favourite watch.' The sighting shows the timepiece clearly on her wrist as she receives flowers from a young well-wisher, the polished white gold Oyster bracelet catching the daylight.

The watch appears to be the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona reference 116509, the 18-carat white gold variant produced from 2000 onward featuring a 40 mm case, screw-down pushers, and the brand's signature tachymeter-engraved bezel — in this case in white gold rather than ceramic, as the pre-116519LN generation dictates. The dial shows three contrasting subdials at 3, 6, and 9 o'clock, with what appear to be diamond hour markers on a silvered or mother-of-pearl ground, consistent with factory-set diamond configurations offered on precious-metal Daytonas of this era.

The movement inside is the Calibre 4130, Rolex's proprietary chronograph movement introduced in 2000 and widely regarded as a benchmark in industrially produced chronograph watchmaking. The vertical clutch eliminates the hand-jump on start, the column wheel ensures tactile precision in the pusher action, and the 72-hour power reserve outperforms most competitors in this segment.

For collectors, the white gold Daytona with diamond markers occupies an interesting position: less immediately dramatic than the full-paved 'Ice' editions, but more wearable as a daily luxury piece. It appeals to buyers who want the mechanical credibility of the Daytona without sacrificing refinement. The 116509 in this configuration commands significant premiums on the secondary market owing to consistent demand from both watch collectors and jewellery-oriented buyers.

Mette-Marit's choice reflects a pattern among European royals who favour understated but unambiguous horological quality over overt display. A white gold Daytona reads as a serious watch to enthusiasts while remaining elegant enough for formal royal engagements. Current grey-market values for the 116509 with diamond dial hover well above retail, underscoring the reference's enduring desirability.