Watch Paparazzi

Singer John Mayer spotted wearing Rolex

John Mayer, whose public enthusiasm for horology has made him one of the most closely watched wrists in entertainment, was recently spotted wearing the Rolex GMT-Master II reference 116719BLRO — the white gold variant of the storied Pepsi GMT. It is a choice that signals serious collector intent rather than mere luxury accessorizing.

The GMT-Master II ref. 116719BLRO sits at the intersection of Rolex's professional and precious-metal catalogues. Introduced in 2007 alongside the steel Pepsi's long hiatus, the 40mm white gold case houses the calibre 3186 automatic movement, featuring a Parachrom hairspring for enhanced resistance to magnetic fields and shocks, with a 48-hour power reserve and 28,800 vph beat rate. The bidirectional 24-hour bezel insert — in Rolex's proprietary Cerachrom ceramic, rendered in the two-tone red and blue that earned the 'Pepsi' nickname back in 1955 — took considerable development to achieve. Achieving two distinct colors in a single fired ceramic piece required a process Rolex developed exclusively for this reference, making the watch technically as notable as it is visually distinctive.

For collectors, the 116719BLRO occupies a specific and coveted niche. White gold GMT variants are produced in far lower numbers than their stainless steel counterparts, and the combination of white gold with the Pepsi insert rather than the black-bezel 'Batman' configuration creates a watch that reads as purposefully understated — precious without announcing itself in yellow gold. It has remained a consistent grail piece for those who find steel too common and yellow gold too loud.

Mayer's relationship with Rolex and haute horology is well documented. He has spoken publicly about his collection across multiple interviews, owns vintage Daytonas, Patek Philippe references, and has collaborated with Hodinkee as a contributing voice. His wearing of the 116719BLRO feels entirely consistent — he gravitates toward pieces with technical credibility and collector depth rather than novelty.

At UK list price of approximately £28,150, the Rolex GMT-Master II ref. 116719BLRO was already a significant retail ask. On the secondary market, white gold Pepsi examples have commanded substantial premiums, with grey-market values consistently exceeding retail and reaching into the $55,000–$65,000 range depending on condition and provenance.