Tennis player Dominic Thiem spotted wearing a Rolex

Beijing, October 2019. Dominic Thiem clutches the ornate China Open trophy, his wrist adorned with what is arguably the hardest steel watch to acquire through official retail channels: the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona reference 116500LN in stainless steel with a black Cerachrom bezel and black dial. The sighting pairs sporting achievement with a horological choice that speaks volumes about Thiem's taste — and his access.

The Rolex Cosmograph Daytona 116500LN launched at Baselworld 2016 as a watershed moment for the iconic chronograph line. For the first time, Rolex fitted the steel Daytona with a ceramic bezel, replacing the aluminum insert that had defined the model for decades. The black dial variant pairs black subsidiary registers on a black main dial — the so-called 'panda' configuration in reverse — creating a dramatic monochromatic aesthetic. Underneath the 40mm Oyster case beats the in-house Calibre 4130, a column-wheel chronograph movement with a vertical clutch offering outstanding precision and a 72-hour power reserve, COSC-certified as a Superlative Chronometer to ±2 seconds per day.

From a collector standpoint, the 116500LN occupies near-mythical status. Authorized dealer waitlists stretched to years following launch, and grey-market premiums ballooned almost immediately. The combination of an in-house movement, ceramic bezel, and the Daytona nameplate — with its Le Mans and motorsport heritage dating to 1963 — created a perfect storm of demand that has never fully subsided. The black-dial version consistently commands a premium over the white-dial variant among secondary-market buyers.

Thiem, who at the time of this sighting was ranked among the ATP's elite and would go on to claim the 2020 US Open title, has demonstrated a consistent preference for understated, high-quality accessories. The Daytona 116500LN fits that profile precisely: recognizable to those who know, restrained enough for a champion who lets results speak first.

At an official retail price of approximately $14,550 USD today (closer to $11,900 at the time of the sighting), the 116500LN trades on the grey market at multiples of list — typically $25,000 to $30,000 or higher for unworn examples. Thiem's wrist is, as it turns out, excellent real estate for one of Rolex's most financially appreciating references.