Watch Paparazzi

Footballer Steven Gerrard spotted wearing Rolex

Steven Gerrard, one of English football's most decorated midfielders, was recently photographed wearing a Rolex Daytona in 18-karat white gold on a black rubber strap — specifically reference 116519LN, a configuration that sits at the more understated end of Rolex's precious-metal Daytona lineup yet carries considerable depth for anyone who knows the catalogue.

The 116519LN pairs a 40mm 18k white gold case with a black Cerachrom ceramic bezel — the 'LN' suffix denoting that ceramic insert — and a matching black dial. The rubber strap, an Oysterflex bracelet in Rolex terminology, was introduced on this reference to bridge the gap between sport and dress, offering flexibility and comfort without sacrificing the watch's formal credentials. Under the caseback sits Calibre 4130, Rolex's entirely in-house column-wheel chronograph movement featuring a vertical clutch for cleaner starts and a 72-hour power reserve. It replaced the older Zenith-based Calibre 4030 in 2000 and remains the benchmark for in-house Swiss chronograph engineering.

From a collector's standpoint, the 116519LN occupies an interesting position. White gold Daytonas have historically been slower to appreciate than their steel counterparts on the secondary market, yet they represent genuine precious-metal watchmaking at a manufacture level. The ceramic bezel iteration addressed earlier criticisms of the aluminium-bezel white gold models being prone to fading, and it gave the reference a contemporary finish that has aged well. Serious collectors regard it as the civilised, all-conditions version of the Daytona proposition.

Gerrard's affinity for quality timepieces is well documented. The former Liverpool captain and Scotland national team manager has been spotted in Rolex references on multiple occasions, and his choice of the 116519LN — low-profile yet technically accomplished — reflects a collector sensibility rather than pure status signalling. It is, frankly, the choice of someone who has been told the reference number, not just the brand name.

On the market, the Rolex Daytona 116519LN carries a UK list price of approximately £21,050. Grey-market values have stabilised considerably from their 2021–22 peaks, with this specific white gold ceramic reference typically trading in a range close to or marginally below retail — making it one of the more accessible Daytonas to acquire at present, particularly compared to the relentless premiums still attached to the steel 116500LN.