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Tennis player Roger Federer spotted wearing Rolex

Roger Federer was photographed at what appears to be a Masters Series hard-court event, holding a runner-up or winner's trophy while sporting one of the most exclusive wristwatches in the Rolex catalogue on his left wrist. The glimpse of the ice-blue dial and steel bracelet — confirmed by the reference image alongside — places this squarely as the platinum Rolex Cosmograph Daytona, reference 116506.

Introduced at Baselworld 2013, the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona 116506 is crafted entirely in 950 platinum, a material Rolex uses sparingly and exclusively for its highest-tier sport references. The 40 mm case houses the in-house calibre 4130, a column-wheel chronograph movement with a vertical clutch, offering approximately 72 hours of power reserve and COSC-certified precision. The standout feature is the dial: an ice-blue sunray-brushed surface with platinum hour markers and three chocolate-brown subdials at 3, 6, and 9 o'clock — a colour combination achievable only on platinum, as Rolex's metallurgy causes the ice-blue tone to emerge naturally from the metal's composition. The bezel is rendered in Cerachrom ceramic in a warm chocolate brown, engraved with the tachymeter scale and filled with platinum powder.

Among Daytona collectors, the 116506 occupies a singular position. It is produced in far smaller quantities than its steel (116500LN) or gold siblings, and its platinum construction makes it both heavier on the wrist and considerably rarer on the secondary market. The ice-blue and chocolate pairing has aged exceptionally well aesthetically, and demand consistently outpaces supply at authorised dealers.

Federer has been a Rolex brand ambassador since 2006, one of the Swiss brand's longest and most prominent sporting partnerships. His choice of the platinum Daytona — rather than a dress watch — signals a deliberate alignment with Rolex's sport-luxury positioning, and the pairing of a Nike performance polo with a six-figure chronograph is quintessentially Federer: effortless, unforced luxury.

At retail, the 116506 carries a list price of approximately $75,950 USD, though authorised dealer availability is virtually non-existent. On the grey market, examples trade between $85,000 and $110,000 depending on condition and completeness of set, reflecting a consistent premium that has held firm even as steel Daytona premiums fluctuated.