Boxer Amir Khan spotted wearing a Rolex

Amir Khan, the Bolton-born WBA light-welterweight champion and one of Britain's most decorated professional boxers, was caught on camera at a UK airport wearing one of the rarest Rolex customisations in existence: a Bamford Watch Department-modified Rolex Yacht-Master II, limited to just 10 pieces worldwide, finished in a striking blue-and-white configuration over a full DLC-treated case and bracelet.

The base reference is the Rolex Yacht-Master II 116680, a 44mm stainless steel regatta chronograph built around the calibre 4161 — a column-wheel movement featuring Rolex's patented Ring Command bezel, which mechanically interfaces with the movement to programme the countdown timer between 1 and 10 minutes. Introduced in 2013, the 116680 brought a white gold bezel insert to the stainless steel line, distinguishing it from the earlier 116689 yellow gold variant. It runs at 28,800 vph with a 72-hour power reserve and is water-resistant to 100 metres.

Bamford Watch Department, founded by George Bamford and headquartered in London, built its reputation on authorised and semi-authorised Rolex modifications — DLC coating, custom dials, bespoke bezels — before the relationship with Rolex became more complex. This particular piece predates Rolex's formal objections to third-party modifications, placing it firmly in the early golden era of Bamford's output. The blue ceramic-look bezel ring, blacked-out case, and matching blue sub-dial ring give the watch a cohesive, almost monochromatic aesthetic that the stock Yacht-Master II never offered. At 10 units total, it is essentially a micro-edition.

Khan has long favoured bold, statement-level horology, consistent with his profile as a high-profile athlete with strong commercial and fashion sensibilities. Wearing the piece alongside stacked diamond bands, the combination reads as deliberately curated rather than incidental — the Bamford Yacht-Master II complementing rather than competing with the blue Versace-style tracksuit.

On the market, stock Rolex Yacht-Master II 116680 references trade on the grey market in the £18,000–£22,000 range depending on condition and papers. The Bamford edition, given its 10-piece limitation and the current collectability of pre-restriction BWD pieces, commands a meaningful premium. The UK caption price of £22,500 at time of sighting likely understated what a willing collector would pay today, with comparable Bamford-modified Rolex references increasingly treated as standalone collectables rather than mere customisations.