Footballer Son Heung-min spotted wearing a Rolex

Son Heung-min, the South Korean football icon and Tottenham Hotspur striker, was recently photographed wearing a Rolex Daytona in 18k yellow gold with a green dial, reference 116508 — a watch that has become one of the most talked-about Daytonas among serious collectors over the past decade.

The Rolex Daytona 116508 was introduced as part of Rolex's broader push to offer the Daytona in precious metals with lacquered colored dials. The green dial version became an instant standout, pairing a rich, deep green lacquer with an 18k yellow gold Oystersteel case measuring 40mm in diameter. The watch features a tachymeter bezel in 18k yellow gold, three contrasting subdials — typically with a champagne or sunray finish — and is powered by the Calibre 4130, Rolex's proprietary self-winding chronograph movement. The 4130 is a landmark calibre: a column-wheel, vertical-clutch movement developed entirely in-house, offering approximately 72 hours of power reserve and a level of reliability that set a new standard when it replaced the earlier 4030-based ebauche.

Among collectors, the Daytona 116508 green dial has earned near-mythic status. Nicknamed the 'John Mayer Daytona' after the guitarist and watch enthusiast who frequently wore one publicly in the mid-2010s, the reference generated a cultural moment that amplified its desirability far beyond typical precious-metal sports watch territory. Waiting lists at authorized dealers remain essentially closed, and grey-market prices consistently run at more than double the official retail figure.

Son Heung-min is no stranger to fine watches. The Ballon d'Or Top Scorer and Premier League Golden Boot recipient has been spotted wearing high-end timepieces on multiple occasions, and his choice of the 116508 green dial reflects a collector sensibility rather than simple brand recognition. This is not an entry-level Rolex — it is a deliberate and informed selection.

At an official retail price of approximately $41,420, the Rolex Daytona 116508 yellow gold green dial is virtually impossible to acquire through normal retail channels. On the secondary market, prices have stabilized in the $85,000–$95,000 range following the broader correction in the grey market since 2022, still representing a substantial premium that speaks to the reference's enduring demand.