Watch Paparazzi

Footballer Jawad El Yamiq spotted wearing Rolex

Jawad El Yamiq, the Real Valladolid and Moroccan national team centre-back who became a household name during Morocco's landmark 2022 FIFA World Cup campaign, has been photographed wearing a Rolex GMT-Master II 'Pepsi' on a Jubilee bracelet — almost certainly reference 126710BLRO. The image, captured in an intimate domestic setting with El Yamiq dressed in traditional Moroccan attire, underscores the cultural pride that defined his nation's historic run to the semifinal, the first African side ever to achieve that feat.

The 126710BLRO is powered by Rolex's in-house Calibre 3285, a movement featuring the Chronergy escapement, paramagnetic blue Parachrom hairspring, and a 70-hour power reserve — a substantial technical upgrade over its 3186-equipped predecessor. The 40mm Oystersteel case carries the trademark Oyster architecture, but what distinguishes this reference is the five-link Jubilee bracelet with Easylink comfort extension — a combination reintroduced alongside the model at Baselworld 2018 after the Pepsi colorway had been restricted to white gold (116719BLRO) since 2014.

From a collector standpoint, the 126710BLRO occupies rarified air. The reintroduction of the Pepsi in steel was arguably the single most talked-about Rolex reveal of the 2010s. The Jubilee variant in particular draws on the watch's 1955 roots — the original GMT-Master ref. 6542 debuted with a Jubilee bracelet for Pan Am pilots — giving the current piece a satisfying historical circularity that resonates with serious collectors and casual admirers alike.

El Yamiq's affinity for the 'Pepsi' GMT feels apt. The watch was engineered for transmeridian travel, tracking two time zones simultaneously via the independently adjustable 24-hour hand — a fitting companion for a professional footballer managing schedules across Europe and North Africa. The bicolour bezel, once a Pan Am pilot's tool, now reads as one of watchmaking's most recognisable designs.

At retail the 126710BLRO lists at approximately $10,850 USD, though grey-market demand has pushed secondary prices considerably higher. Waitlists at authorised dealers remain lengthy, making pre-owned examples the practical acquisition route for most buyers. El Yamiq's choice reflects both sound taste and an eye for enduring value.