Watch Paparazzi

Footballer Bukayo Saka spotted wearing Rolex

Bukayo Saka, Arsenal's 22-year-old talisman and a cornerstone of England's national team, has been seen wearing the Rolex GMT-Master II 'Sprite' reference 126720VTNR on its five-link Jubilee bracelet — a pairing that has become one of the most sought-after combinations in contemporary watchmaking.

The GMT-Master II 126720VTNR represents a genuine engineering departure for Rolex. Introduced at Watches & Wonders Geneva 2022, it is the brand's first left-handed GMT-Master in the modern catalog, with the winding crown and date aperture repositioned to 9 o'clock. This isn't a cosmetic quirk — the movement architecture required meaningful reconfiguration. The watch is powered by the calibre 3285, Rolex's in-house GMT movement featuring a Chronergy escapement, 70-hour power reserve, and a bidirectional GMT hand independently set in one-hour increments. The two-tone Cerachrom bezel insert in green and black — the combination that earned the 'Sprite' nickname — is virtually scratch-proof, UV-resistant, and maintains its color over decades.

For collectors, the 126720VTNR occupies a particularly charged position. The left-handed configuration gives it genuine novelty within a range that rarely deviates from formula. Combined with the Jubilee bracelet — widely considered more refined than the Oyster alternative — and the 'Sprite' colorway, which references the original 1970s 'Pepsi' and 'Root Beer' GMT heritage, this reference checks every box for the serious buyer. Grey market premiums have been steep and persistent since launch, reflecting both genuine demand and constrained boutique supply.

Saka's taste in watches has sharpened alongside his profile. At an age when many footballers reach for the flashiest possible statement piece, a left-handed Rolex GMT demonstrates a level of horological awareness that goes beyond simple status signaling. The 'Sprite' is a conversation piece for those who know — and meaningless decoration for those who don't.

At an official retail price of $11,050, the Rolex GMT-Master II 126720VTNR is technically accessible by luxury watch standards, but virtually impossible to acquire at that figure. Grey market values have settled around $35,000, a premium that shows little sign of compressing as long as authorized dealer allocations remain tightly controlled. Saka's sighting will not help availability.