Watch Paparazzi

Tennis player Roger Federer spotted wearing Rolex

Roger Federer has been photographed wearing a stainless steel Rolex GMT-Master II 'Pepsi' on a five-link Jubilee bracelet, reference 126710BLRO — a watch that carries as much horological significance as the champion himself carries in tennis. The sighting is entirely on-brand: Federer has been a Rolex ambassador since 2006, and his wrist has become a reliable showcase for the Geneva manufacture's most talked-about references.

Introduced at Baselworld 2018, the GMT-Master II 126710BLRO represented a genuine technical milestone. For the first time, Rolex produced the iconic red-and-blue bicolour 'Pepsi' bezel insert in Cerachrom ceramic on a stainless steel case — a feat previously considered extremely difficult due to the complexity of sintering two distinct ceramic colours in a single piece. Earlier steel Pepsi bezels used aluminium inserts; the ceramic version had been exclusive to the white gold ref. 116719BLRO since 2014. The Jubilee bracelet, with its five-link construction and Oysterclasp with Easylink comfort extension, was a deliberate callback to the original GMT-Master of the 1950s, replacing the Oyster bracelet that had accompanied the model for decades.

Beneath the 40mm Oystersteel case beats the Rolex Calibre 3285, a manufacture movement featuring the Chronergy escapement, a paramagnetic nickel-phosphorus lever and escape wheel, and a power reserve of approximately 70 hours. The bidirectional GMT hand — independently adjustable via the crown — allows the wearer to track a second time zone while the 24-hour graduated bezel handles a third. It is, functionally, a pilot's complication that translates seamlessly to everyday wear.

Among collectors, the ref. 126710BLRO has earned near-mythological status. Waiting lists at authorised dealers remain extensive years after launch, and the grey market consistently prices it well above retail. The Jubilee bracelet configuration in particular commands a premium over its Oyster-bracelet sibling, the ref. 126710BLNR 'Batman', which uses a black-and-blue ceramic insert.

For Federer, the GMT-Master II 126710BLRO is a fitting choice — understated enough for a man who rarely courts attention off the court, yet unmistakably significant to anyone who knows watches. The retail price sits at approximately $10,800 USD, though acquiring one at that figure from an authorised dealer remains another matter entirely.