Watch Paparazzi

Footballer Joshua King spotted wearing Rolex

Joshua King, the Norwegian forward with stints at Manchester United, Bournemouth, and Watford FC, was recently photographed outside what appears to be Watford's training facility, arms crossed and smiling — with a distinctly platinum Rolex Cosmograph Daytona sitting confidently on his wrist. The ice-blue dial and chestnut ceramic bezel are unmistakable identifiers of this ultra-exclusive reference.

The Rolex Cosmograph Daytona Reference 116506 is the marque's only current Daytona produced in 950 platinum. Introduced at Baselworld 2013, it immediately became a landmark piece. The 40mm oyster case houses the in-house calibre 4130 movement — a column-wheel chronograph with vertical clutch offering exceptional precision and a 72-hour power reserve. The ice-blue dial, a colour Rolex reserves exclusively for platinum models across multiple lines, features the brand's signature tachymetric subdials in matching ice-blue. The chestnut-brown Cerachrom bezel insert provides a warm tonal counterpoint that elevates the watch beyond mere sport chronograph territory.

From a collector standpoint, the 116506 occupies rarefied air. It arrives with a meteorite subdial option or the standard ice-blue configuration — King appears to be wearing the latter. Platinum Daytonas rarely appear on the grey market, and when they do, they command premiums that leave the official retail price far behind. This is a watch for serious collectors, not impulse buyers: it requires placement on a waiting list even for established Rolex clients.

King has demonstrated consistent taste in luxury timepieces throughout his career, and this platinum Daytona is arguably the most sophisticated choice in his collection to date. Its understatedness — no diamonds, no flashy complications — speaks to a maturing sensibility. A footballer choosing 950 platinum over yellow gold says something deliberate about their aesthetic direction.

At official retail, the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona 116506 lists in the region of $75,800 USD, but the secondary market tells a very different story. Grey-market values have consistently pushed this reference north of $150,000–$170,000 USD, reflecting both genuine scarcity and enduring collector demand. Few watches in the Rolex catalogue combine movement pedigree, material exclusivity, and design coherence at this level.