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Boxer Conor Benn spotted wearing Rolex

Conor Benn, the unbeaten British welterweight and son of boxing legend Nigel Benn, was spotted on the wrist wearing the Rolex Submariner Date ref. 126610LV — the model collectors universally know as the 'Starbucks' — following a recent ring victory. The sighting places one of Britain's most closely watched young fighters squarely in company with the watch world's most recognisable icons.

Rolex debuted the Submariner ref. 126610LV in 2020, replacing the long-running 116610LV after a fourteen-year production run. The changes were meaningful rather than cosmetic. The case grew from 40mm to 41mm, the lugs were reworked for greater elegance, and the Oysterlock clasp received a comfort extension upgrade. Most significantly, Rolex swapped in the in-house calibre 3235 — a movement boasting a 70-hour power reserve, Chronergy escapement, and Rolex's own Parachrom hairspring — representing a genuine step forward in precision and reliability over the calibre 3135 it succeeded.

The 'Starbucks' nickname originated with the ref. 16610LV, first produced in 2003 with its distinctive green bezel and black dial combination, but the sobriquet transferred naturally to the 126610LV when it launched. The ceramic Cerachrom bezel, scratch-resistant and UV-stable, renders the green more vivid and consistent than the aluminium insert it replaced. For collectors, the 126610LV sits at the top of the modern steel Submariner hierarchy — more desirable than the no-date 124060 for those who want the full package, and more wearable than the two-tone or gold variants for everyday use.

Benn, who fights out of Essex and carries a professional record built on power and technical improvement under trainer Tony Sims, has emerged as one of British boxing's most marketable figures. His choice of the Submariner 'Starbucks' signals considered taste: it is neither the flashiest watch on the market nor the most obscure, but it is unambiguously correct — the kind of selection that suggests genuine horological awareness rather than impulse buying.

At UK list price of £7,650 the 126610LV is theoretically accessible, but grey-market premiums tell the real story. Demand has consistently outpaced Rolex's authorised dealer allocation since launch, pushing secondary-market prices well above retail. Buyers unwilling to cultivate a purchasing history with an AD typically pay a substantial premium — a reflection of just how coveted the 'Starbucks' configuration remains four years into production.