Watch Paparazzi

Tennis player Grigor Dimitrov spotted wearing Rolex

Grigor Dimitrov claimed the Brisbane International 2017 title in style, and eagle-eyed watch spotters noticed the Bulgarian tennis star had chosen a Rolex Explorer II in black dial to mark the occasion. Holding the crystal trophy aloft in his Nike athletic kit, Dimitrov's wrist revealed a chunky steel sports watch that sat confidently against his bracelet-clad arm — a sighting worth examining in detail.

The watch in question is the Rolex Explorer II Reference 216570, introduced in 2011 as a full redesign of the 16570. Rolex enlarged the case from 40mm to 42mm, fitted a sapphire crystal with Cyclops lens over the date aperture, and retained the signature fixed 24-hour bezel that distinguishes the Explorer II from its GMT-Master stablemates. The black dial variant — known in collector circles simply as 'black' versus the more polarizing 'white' option — features large luminous hour markers and the characteristic orange 24-hour hand that tracks a second time zone or differentiates AM from PM for spelunkers and polar explorers, the watch's original intended users. The cal. 3187 movement inside offers Parachrom hairspring technology and 48-hour power reserve, COSC-certified to +/- 2 seconds per day.

From a collector standpoint, the 216570 occupies an interesting position. Initially dismissed by some purists for its size increase, it has matured into a respected sports Rolex that holds value reliably. The black dial version consistently commands a modest premium over the white on the secondary market, owing to its cleaner, more versatile aesthetic. Its discontinuation-or-replacement cycle speculation keeps demand steady among buyers who prize tool-watch utility in a modern package.

Dimitrov, nicknamed 'Baby Fed' for his stylistic resemblance to Roger Federer on court, has long demonstrated considered taste off it. His choice of the Explorer II — purposeful, understated, and built for endurance — reflects the same pragmatic elegance that defines his baseline game. A grand slam-caliber watch for a player who would go on to reach the ATP Finals title later that same year.

Retail for the Rolex Explorer II Ref. 216570 at launch was approximately $8,550 USD. On today's grey market, steel sports Rolexes of this generation trade at modest premiums, with the 216570 black dial typically fetching between $9,500 and $11,500 depending on condition and papers.