Footballer Erling Haaland spotted wearing a Rolex

Erling Haaland, Manchester City's record-breaking Norwegian striker, was recently photographed wearing a Rolex Daytona reference 116518LN — the 18K yellow gold variant fitted with one of the manufacture's most conversation-stopping dials: a slice of genuine meteorite, mounted on a modern OysterFlex rubber strap. For a footballer whose wrist game has drawn as much attention as his goal tally, this particular piece stands out even in a crowded celebrity watch landscape.

The Rolex Daytona 116518LN sits within the current-generation Daytona family that was introduced in 2016 alongside the in-house Calibre 4130 movement — a column-wheel, vertical-clutch chronograph mechanism widely regarded as one of the finest in production watchmaking. The 40mm yellow gold case houses that 72-hour power reserve movement behind a screw-down caseback and crown, maintaining 100 metres of water resistance. The meteorite dial — sourced from Gibeon meteorite fragments — displays its characteristic Widmanstätten crystalline structure, formed over billions of years of slow cooling in space. No two dials are identical, which gives every 116518LN a genuinely one-of-one character. The OysterFlex bracelet replaces the traditional Oyster or Jubilee links with a blade-shaped metal core clad in black elastomer, combining sporty flexibility with structural rigidity.

From a collector standpoint, the 116518LN occupies a compelling position. Yellow gold Daytonas have historically sat in the shadow of their steel siblings on the secondary market, but the meteorite dial variant commands a premium even within the gold range. The combination of a precious-metal case and an extraterrestrial dial creates what collectors call a "conversation piece with credentials" — technically exceptional and visually singular. Grey-market demand has pushed values well beyond list price, reflecting consistent appetite for this specific configuration.

Haaland, who turns 25 in 2025, has already established himself as one of the more watch-literate athletes in European football. His public appearances have included several notable references across multiple brands, but the 116518LN suggests a collector moving deliberately rather than simply spending.

At a UK list price of approximately £26,900 (around $33,550 USD), the Rolex Daytona 116518LN in yellow gold with meteorite dial is already a significant purchase. On the grey market, however, current valuations sit in the region of $130,000 USD — roughly four times retail — a premium that reflects both the enduring demand for gold Daytonas and the specific scarcity of the meteorite dial configuration.