Watch Paparazzi

Pilot Jenson Button spotted wearing Rolex

Jenson Button, 2009 Formula 1 World Champion and one of motorsport's most enduring personalities, was recently spotted wearing a Rolex Daytona reference 116508 in 18K yellow gold with a striking green dial — a watch that sits firmly at the intersection of Rolex's sporting heritage and its luxury precious-metal catalogue.

The Rolex Daytona ref. 116508 was introduced as part of the broader 116500 generation, which marked a pivotal moment for the Daytona line: the debut of Rolex's entirely in-house Calibre 4130 automatic chronograph movement. The 4130 is a column-wheel, vertical-clutch movement with a 72-hour power reserve and exceptional reliability, widely regarded as one of the finest chronograph calibres in series production. The case measures 40mm in 18K yellow gold, fitted with a matching Oysterflex bracelet or Oyster bracelet depending on configuration, and the green dial — a so-called "John Mayer" colorway among collectors — features three contrasting subdials and applied gold indices.

The green-dialed yellow gold Daytona occupies a special place in the collector community. When Rolex released this reference, the combination of yellow gold and green immediately drew comparisons to Rolex's iconic "Hulk" GMT-Master II aesthetic sensibility. The ref. 116508 in green has since become one of the most sought-after modern Daytonas, commanding significant premiums on the secondary market and rarely appearing at authorised dealers without considerable waiting lists.

Button's affinity for fine watchmaking is well documented — as a former F1 driver, the precision engineering of a mechanical chronograph is more than aesthetic appreciation; it reflects a professional relationship with timekeeping at the highest level. The Daytona, originally developed in the 1960s for racing drivers, remains symbolically apt on his wrist.

At retail, the Rolex Daytona ref. 116508 with green dial carries a list price of approximately $37,550 USD. On the grey market, however, demand has pushed values considerably higher, with current estimates placing the piece at around $80,000 USD — more than double retail — underscoring just how aggressively collectors pursue this particular configuration.