Watch Paparazzi

Footballer Didier Drogba spotted wearing Rolex

Didier Drogba, the Ivory Coast striker widely regarded as one of the most complete centre-forwards of his generation, was recently spotted with a timepiece that matches his stature in the game: the Rolex Daytona Diamond Pavé Dial in Platinum, reference 116576TBR — a watch that occupies the absolute summit of the Daytona family.

The 116576TBR is built entirely in 950 platinum, a material Rolex reserves exclusively for its most rarefied references. The 40mm case houses the manufacture calibre 4130, a column-wheel, vertical-clutch chronograph movement that Rolex introduced in 2000 and has since refined into one of the most reliable and respected chronograph ebauches in Swiss horology. It beats at 28,800 vph, offers 72 hours of power reserve, and is certified as a Superlative Chronometer to ±2 seconds per day. The bezel is set with 36 baguette-cut diamonds, while the dial itself is fully pavéd with brilliant-cut diamonds across both the main surface and the three subsidiary chronograph counters. The overall diamond count runs to over 500 stones, making this one of the most technically demanding setting jobs Rolex undertakes.

From a collector's perspective, the Daytona 116576TBR occupies a singular position. It is not a watch that appears at grey-market dealers with any regularity — production volumes are extremely limited, and the piece is typically reserved for Rolex's most established client relationships. Its predecessor references in platinum with diamond dials have consistently appreciated, and the 116576TBR is considered both a legitimate horological object and a serious store of value.

Drogba's relationship with fine watches is well documented. Since his peak years at Chelsea — culminating in that Champions League final equaliser in Munich in 2012 — he has been seen with a range of high-complication and high-jewellery pieces. The Daytona 116576TBR is a natural fit for someone who built a career on performing at the highest level when stakes were greatest.

At UK list price of £108,000 (approximately $135,000 USD), the Rolex Daytona 116576TBR is among the most expensive watches in Rolex's current portfolio. On the secondary market, examples in full set condition with box and papers command significant premiums over retail, reflecting the scarcity of platinum allocations and the enduring global demand for diamond-set Daytona references.