Watch Paparazzi

Entrepreneur Nishad Ak spotted wearing Rolex

Nishad Ak, Co-Founder of the Malabar Group and Chairman of Cosmos Sports, was recently photographed wearing one of the most recognisable and market-relevant sports watches in production today — the Rolex GMT-Master II reference 126710BLNR, universally known among collectors as the 'Batman.'

Rolex introduced the 126710BLNR in 2019 at Baselworld, replacing the outgoing 116710BLNR and bringing with it two critical upgrades: the Calibre 3285 movement and the option of a five-link Jubilee bracelet. The Calibre 3285 is a manufacture movement featuring a Chronergy escapement, a paramagnetic blue Parachrom hairspring, and a power reserve of approximately 70 hours — a meaningful step up from the 48-hour reserve of its predecessor. The bidirectional independently settable GMT hand and the scratch-resistant black-and-blue Cerachrom ceramic bezel insert remain central to the watch's identity and practical utility for frequent travellers tracking two time zones simultaneously.

The 126710BLNR wears at 40mm in Oystersteel, with a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal and water resistance to 100 metres. The matte black dial, applied hour markers, and Mercedes hands are finished to the standard Rolex collectors have come to expect from the GMT-Master II line. The combination of the Jubilee bracelet — previously reserved for the two-tone 'Rootbeer' variants — with an all-steel case gave the Batman a more refined, dressy personality without sacrificing robustness.

Collector interest in the 126710BLNR has never wavered since its debut. The reference sits firmly in the upper tier of Rolex sports references for desirability, partly because the black-and-blue colour scheme suits both formal and casual contexts, and partly because the Jubilee configuration broadened its appeal beyond the traditional sports-watch buyer.

On the market, the 126710BLNR retails at an official list price of approximately $9,100 USD — though in certain markets including India the figure sits around ₹8,73,000. Grey-market values have consistently hovered near $17,500, reflecting sustained demand that far outpaces authorised dealer supply. For a businessman of Nishad Ak's profile — operating across retail and sports industries at scale — the Batman represents a considered, understated statement of horological literacy rather than ostentation.