Athlete Lindsey Vonn spotted wearing a Rolex

Lindsey Vonn, the most decorated American alpine skier in history and a four-time World Cup overall champion, was recently spotted wearing a Rolex Daytona Reference 116508 in 18k yellow gold with a striking green dial — one of the most visually distinctive and collector-coveted configurations in the modern Daytona catalogue.

The Rolex Daytona 116508 sits at the top of the steel-and-gold Daytona hierarchy. Its 40mm case is crafted entirely from 18k yellow gold, housing the in-house Calibre 4130 automatic chronograph movement — a column-wheel, vertical-clutch mechanism that Rolex developed to replace the earlier Zenith El Primero base. The Calibre 4130 offers a 72-hour power reserve, chronometric precision, and a dramatically simplified architecture of just 290 components. The green dial variant is particularly sought after: its deep, lacquered sunburst finish contrasts with the warm gold case in a way that reads as bold without being loud, a combination Rolex introduced to widespread collector acclaim.

The 116508 green dial entered production in the mid-2010s and quickly became a grail reference. Unlike the ceramic-bezel Daytona 116518LN, the 116508 retains the traditional tachymetric bezel in 18k gold — a more classical proposition that appeals to purists who value continuity with the Daytona's 1963 origins. The reference has since been superseded by the Calibre 4131-equipped 126508, making surviving 116508 examples incrementally more collectible as a closed chapter in Daytona history.

Vonn's affinity for strong, purposeful objects is well established — her career was built on precision engineering and physical control, values that map naturally onto serious watchmaking. Wearing the Daytona 116508 rather than a more ostentatious complication signals genuine engagement with the watch world rather than simple brand association.

On the market, the Rolex Daytona 116508 with green dial commands significant premiums. List price sits at approximately $40,900, but grey-market transactions consistently register around $150,000 — a near-fourfold multiple that reflects tight supply, strong demand, and the reference's closed-production status. For collectors, this is not a speculation play so much as a confirmation of long-term desirability.