Watch Paparazzi

Actor Jason Statham spotted wearing Rolex

At what appears to be a Far East press event — likely a Fast & Furious franchise promotional tour given the visible Chinese-language signage — Jason Statham is caught mid-laugh, his left wrist betraying a quietly serious piece of horology. The watch in question is a Rolex GMT-Master II in stainless steel with the unmistakable black-and-blue bicolour Cerachrom bezel insert, riding on an Oyster bracelet with Glidelock clasp extension system.

The Rolex GMT-Master II reference 116710BLNR was introduced at Baselworld 2013, replacing the aluminium bezel inserts that had defined the line for decades with a scratch-resistant, fade-proof ceramic equivalent. Calibre 3186 powers the piece — a 28,800 vph movement with a Parachrom Hairspring offering enhanced resistance to magnetic fields and shock, with approximately 50 hours of power reserve. The bidirectional 24-hour bezel allows independent setting of a second time zone, making it a genuine dual-timezone instrument rather than a style exercise.

The 'Batman' — so nicknamed by collectors for its blue-and-black colour scheme echoing the caped crusader's palette — became one of the most sought-after references in the modern Rolex catalogue almost immediately. It occupied a sweet spot: sporty enough for daily wear, technically sophisticated, and visually distinctive without being gaudy. When Rolex discontinued it in favour of the Jubilee-bracelet 'Batgirl' (126710BLNR) in 2019, secondary market premiums on the 116710BLNR climbed sharply as collectors recognised the Oyster-bracelet variant's standalone identity.

Statham's taste in watches skews toward functional luxury — robust sports references that don't look out of place at a film premiere or a serious gym session. The GMT-Master II aligns precisely with that ethos: no diamonds, no complications for complication's sake, just a COSC-certified chronometer built to work anywhere on the planet across multiple time zones.

On the grey market, the 116710BLNR currently commands a meaningful premium above its last official retail price of approximately $9,700, with strong collector demand sustaining values well above $15,000 for clean examples. Its discontinuation has only reinforced its desirability, and a celebrity sighting of this calibre does nothing to dampen that enthusiasm.