Watch Paparazzi

Actor Val Kilmer spotted wearing Rolex

When Top Gun hit theaters in July 1986, audiences fixated on fighter jets and leather jackets. Watch enthusiasts, however, noticed something else entirely on the wrist of Val Kilmer's Lieutenant Tom 'Iceman' Kazansky: a two-tone Rolex Datejust on a Jubilee bracelet, later identified as reference 16013. It is one of cinema's most quietly effective character-building props — a watch that signals status, discipline, and precision without saying a word.

The Rolex Datejust 16013 is a 36mm stainless steel and 18k yellow gold model — Rolex's proprietary 'Rolesor' combination — produced from approximately 1979 through 1988. The gold is reserved for the fluted bezel, the crown, and the Jubilee bracelet center links, while the case and outer bracelet links remain in steel. Period examples are fitted with the Calibre 3035 automatic movement; later production transitioned to the more refined Calibre 3135, which introduced an independent seconds stop mechanism and improved regulation. The dial typically came in a range of options including silver, champagne, and black, with applied hour markers and a cyclops lens magnifying the date at 3 o'clock.

Among vintage Datejust collectors, the 16013 occupies a comfortable sweet spot. It is not as aggressively sought as the all-gold 18038 or the steel 16000, but its Rolesor configuration gives it a versatility that pure steel or pure gold models lack. Condition of the gold bezel fluting and the integrity of the Jubilee bracelet are the primary grading concerns on the secondary market. A tight, unpolished example commands a meaningful premium.

Val Kilmer's portrayal of Iceman gave the 16013 a cultural footnote that endures. The character's cool, methodical demeanor suits the watch perfectly — Rolesor Datejusts of this era projected understated affluence, the choice of a man who does not need to announce himself. The sighting gained renewed attention following Top Gun: Maverick in 2022 and Kilmer's own high-profile battle with throat cancer, both of which reignited public interest in his legacy.

On the grey market today, a clean Rolex Datejust 16013 with original dial and bracelet trades in the $6,500–$8,500 range depending on configuration and documentation. Retail pricing for the reference ceased with its discontinuation, but its accessibility relative to modern Datejust equivalents keeps demand steady among entry-level vintage Rolex collectors.