Watch Paparazzi

Basketball player Anthony Davis spotted wearing Rolex

Anthony Davis, the Los Angeles Lakers' eight-time All-Star center, was recently photographed wearing one of the rarest watches Rolex currently produces — the GMT-Master II reference 126755SARU in 18k Everose gold. The sighting immediately drew attention among collectors and watch enthusiasts, because this particular reference is not something you simply walk into a boutique and purchase.

The Rolex GMT-Master II 126755SARU was unveiled in 2019 as the jewellery pinnacle of the GMT-Master II collection. Built on the calibre 3285 movement — a self-winding manufacture column-wheel mechanism with a Chronergy escapement, 70-hour power reserve, and bidirectional rotor — the watch offers the same robust dual-timezone functionality as any GMT-Master II. What sets the 126755SARU apart is what surrounds that movement. The 40mm Everose gold case is set with 76 brilliant-cut diamonds, and the five-piece links at the centre of the Oyster bracelet receive additional stone-setting across the visible surfaces. The dial is fully paved with diamonds, eliminating any conventional hour markers in favour of wall-to-wall brilliance.

The bezel is where the reference earns its suffix. Rolex's gem-setters insert 23 baguette-cut diamonds alongside 18 baguette-cut blue sapphires and 18 baguette-cut rubies, each stone hand-selected for colour consistency and cut precision. The result mirrors the palette of the iconic 'Pepsi' bezel — red and blue — but rendered entirely in precious stones. The total stone count across the watch runs into the hundreds, and the setting alone represents months of skilled hand labour.

For collectors, the 126755SARU occupies rarefied territory. Rolex produces it in genuinely limited numbers, and allocation to authorised dealers is extremely tight. Secondary-market appearances are infrequent, and when the watch does surface, it trades at a substantial premium over its already considerable retail price. It is the kind of reference that serious Rolex completists actively pursue for years.

Anthony Davis has established himself as one of the NBA's most watch-aware players, regularly appearing courtside and off-court in significant timepieces. Choosing the GMT-Master II 126755SARU signals a collector sensibility that goes beyond status dressing — this is a watch that demands genuine knowledge to seek out and acquire.