Footballer Luka Modric spotted wearing a Rolex

Luka Modric, widely regarded as one of the finest midfielders of his generation and the 2018 Ballon d'Or winner, was recently spotted wearing a stainless steel Rolex GMT-Master II reference 126710BLRO — the celebrated 'Pepsi' variant on its signature Jubilee bracelet. It is a choice that signals genuine horological taste rather than mere status dressing.

The 126710BLRO sits at the pinnacle of Rolex's GMT-Master II lineup in steel. Introduced at Baselworld 2018, it marked the first time Rolex had placed the red-and-blue Cerachrom bezel — a colour combination dating back to the original 1675 'Pepsi' of 1954 — onto the Jubilee bracelet in steel. The 40mm Oystersteel case houses the in-house Calibre 3285, a technically significant movement featuring the Chronergy escapement for improved energy efficiency, a 70-hour power reserve, and Rolex's Parachrom hairspring. The bidirectional independently adjustable GMT hand allows quick timezone changes without stopping the movement — the feature that made the original GMT-Master the choice of Pan Am pilots.

From a collector standpoint, the 126710BLRO occupies a unique position. After the steel Pepsi GMT disappeared from the catalogue in 2007, demand built for over a decade. Its 2018 return — and specifically the decision to pair it with the dressy Jubilee rather than the sportier Oyster bracelet — created a moment. The Jubilee's five-piece links soften the watch's profile considerably, making it equally at home with a suit or casual wear. Waitlists at authorised dealers remain notoriously long, making grey-market premiums a persistent reality.

Modric's affinity for quality timekeeping is well documented among watch spotters. The Croatian captain's understated elegance off the pitch mirrors his playing style — precise, unhurried, effective. The Pepsi GMT on Jubilee suits that profile exactly: a tool watch with genuine heritage, worn without ostentation.

At UK list price of £7,150, the 126710BLRO remains technically accessible by luxury standards, but scarcity drives grey-market values significantly higher. Demand shows no structural signs of softening, and the reference continues to trade at a meaningful premium over retail globally.