Cricketer Virat Kohli spotted wearing a Rolex

Virat Kohli, widely regarded as one of cricket's greatest modern batsmen and a figure whose every off-field move commands global attention, was recently spotted wearing the Rolex GMT-Master II reference 126710BLRO — the stainless steel 'Pepsi' on an Oyster bracelet. For collectors, the sighting is far from casual: this is one of the most historically charged references in Rolex's current catalogue.

The GMT-Master lineage traces back to 1954, developed in partnership with Pan American Airways to help transatlantic pilots track two time zones simultaneously. The 'Pepsi' colorway — red for day, blue for night on the 24-hour bezel — has been synonymous with the model almost from the beginning. What makes the 126710BLRO so significant is its 2018 reintroduction of that red-and-blue combination in Rolex's Cerachrom ceramic, a material hard enough to resist scratching and UV fading. Earlier stainless steel Pepsi bezels were aluminum, prone to fading; ceramic solved that problem definitively. The watch houses Rolex's in-house Calibre 3285, a 70-hour power reserve movement featuring the Chronergy escapement — a significant upgrade over the previous 3186 in both efficiency and accuracy, certified as a Superlative Chronometer to ±2 seconds per day.

The 40mm Oyster case sits on a three-link Oyster bracelet with Easylink extension and an Oysterlock clasp — a practical, sport-oriented configuration that reads equally well at a press conference or a formal event. Water resistance is rated to 100 metres.

From a collector standpoint, the 126710BLRO occupies rare territory: a watch with genuine historical romance, modern technical substance, and a market premium that shows no signs of correcting. Authorised dealer waiting lists remain long, and grey-market premiums have held firm since launch — a combination that speaks to structural demand rather than speculative froth.

Kohli's affinity for serious horology is well documented; his collection spans multiple luxury references across several prestigious brands. Choosing the GMT-Master II 126710BLRO suggests considered taste rather than trend-following — the Pepsi is a collector's choice, not a newcomer's impulse buy. At a retail price of approximately $10,270 and trading on the secondary market closer to $24,500, the gap between list and grey underlines just how sought-after this reference remains.