Footballer Karim Benzema spotted wearing a Rolex

Karim Benzema, the French striker who claimed the 2022 Ballon d'Or while leading Real Madrid to Champions League glory, was spotted wearing a Rolex Cosmograph Daytona in 18k Everose gold with a chocolate dial — reference 116505. The sighting reinforces Benzema's reputation as one of football's most discerning watch collectors, a man who gravitates toward pieces that communicate substance over spectacle.

The Rolex Daytona ref. 116505 debuted in the mid-2000s as part of the brand's push to bring the iconic Daytona line fully in-house following the landmark introduction of the calibre 4130 in 2000. That movement replaced the long-serving Zenith El Primero base and gave Rolex complete control over its chronograph architecture for the first time. The 4130 runs at 28,800 vph, offers a 72-hour power reserve, and features a vertically coupled clutch that eliminates the hand-jump common in lateral-clutch designs. The 40mm Everose gold case is paired with a matching oyster bracelet, and the chocolate dial — with its subsidiary registers in a slightly deeper shade — is a colourway Rolex reserves exclusively for rose gold references, achieved through a specific surface-finishing process that gives the dial its warm, matte depth.

Among collectors, the 116505 occupies a distinctive position. It lacks the cult status of the stainless steel ref. 116500LN, which commands stratospheric premiums on the secondary market, but it appeals to a more mature collector profile — one drawn to precious metal daily wearers rather than speculative steel sports watches. The chocolate dial variant in particular has held its value with quiet consistency, appreciated for its versatility and the quality of its finishing.

Benzema has long been photographed with high-complication and prestige pieces across multiple brands, but the Daytona 116505 signals a grounded choice — a watch that needs no introduction in horological circles and requires no explanation on a footballer's wrist.

At retail, the Rolex Daytona ref. 116505 in Everose gold with chocolate dial is priced in the region of $36,650 USD. On the grey market, demand for the chocolate dial configuration keeps values comfortably above list, with examples typically trading between $42,000 and $48,000 USD depending on condition and papers.