Actor Bernard Montiel spotted wearing a Rolex

Bernard Montiel, a fixture of French entertainment known for his television presenting and acting career, was recently photographed sporting a Rolex Cosmograph Daytona on his wrist. The sighting is notable not simply for the brand, but for the specific configuration: a silver dial with bold Arabic numerals, black sub-register rings, and what appears to be an 18k white gold case and Oyster bracelet — pointing firmly toward the reference 116509.

The Rolex Cosmograph Daytona 116509 was produced from 2000 onward, housing the in-house calibre 4130 — a movement Rolex developed to replace the reliable but externally sourced Zenith El Primero. The 4130 runs at 28,800 vph, offers approximately 72 hours of power reserve, and features a column-wheel chronograph mechanism with vertical clutch for cleaner, more precise starts. The 40mm white gold case is paired with a white gold tachymeter bezel, giving the watch a cool, monochromatic sophistication entirely different from the steel or Everose variants.

The 'Arabic numeral' dial variant of the 116509 occupies a sweet spot in the collector market. It references the earliest Daytona dials from the 1960s — those exotic 'Paul Newman' configurations — while remaining thoroughly modern in execution. The black sub-dials with red-tipped chronograph hands create a subtle but unmistakable contrast against the silver main dial, a detail that rewards close inspection.

For Montiel, the choice of this particular Daytona speaks to a collector sensibility rather than mere status signalling. White gold Daytonas sit above the steel variants in both exclusivity and price, yet avoid the overtly precious-stone territory that can read as excessive. It is a watch for someone who knows what they own.

On the secondary market, the 116509 with Arabic dial commands a significant premium over its listed retail price, driven by discontinued white gold Daytona demand and growing collector interest in non-bezel-diamond configurations. Retail stood at approximately $34,550 USD before newer references arrived; grey market values have since climbed well above that figure, reflecting the enduring desirability of the Daytona name in any precious metal.