Cricketer Hardik Pandya spotted wearing a Rolex

Hardik Pandya, one of Indian cricket's most flamboyant personalities, was recently photographed inside his car wearing a Rolex GMT-Master II reference 126710BLRO — the iconic 'Pepsi' variant in oystersteel on a five-link Jubilee bracelet. The candid sighting adds another marquee reference to what is clearly a considered watch collection.

The 126710BLRO represents a landmark moment in Rolex's modern history. When the brand reintroduced the red-and-blue 'Pepsi' colorway in stainless steel at Baselworld 2018, it corrected a decades-long omission — the Pepsi bezel had been restricted to white-gold cases since the early 1980s. The 2018 model also debuted the five-link Jubilee bracelet on a GMT-Master II for the very first time, a pairing that proved immediately polarizing among purists but enormously popular with the broader market. The bezel itself is crafted from Rolex's proprietary Cerachrom ceramic, delivering scratch resistance and UV stability that earlier aluminum bezels could never match.

Under the 40 mm Oystersteel case sits Rolex's calibre 3285, a manufacture movement featuring a Chronergy escapement, Parachrom hairspring, and a 70-hour power reserve — a significant upgrade over the outgoing 3186. The black dial carries the GMT-Master II's signature 24-hour graduated bezel scale and a magnified date aperture at 3 o'clock, legible at a glance across two time zones.

From a collector standpoint, the 126710BLRO occupies rare territory: it is simultaneously a grail-level reference and a functionally excellent travel watch. Waiting lists at authorized dealers remain extensive globally, pushing grey-market premiums well above retail. The Jubilee bracelet variant specifically commands a slight premium over its Oyster-bracelet sibling, the 126710BLNR 'Batman,' among secondary-market buyers.

For Pandya, a cricketer whose aggressive batting and personal style have made him one of India's most recognizable sports personalities, the Pepsi GMT-Master II is a logical choice — historically significant, globally recognizable, and effortlessly wearable. Official retail sits at approximately $10,700 following Rolex's 2023 price adjustments, though grey-market values continue to trade higher.