Footballer Sami Khedira spotted wearing a Rolex

When Sami Khedira arrived at Juventus as one of the most decorated midfielders of his generation, the cameras caught more than a new black-and-white shirt. On his wrist sat a Rolex Cosmograph Daytona in Everose gold, reference 116505, with a black dial — a watch that quietly signals serious horological taste rather than flashy excess.

The ref. 116505 is built around Rolex's proprietary 18k Everose gold, an alloy the brand patented in 2005 that blends gold, copper, and platinum to resist the fading that affects conventional rose gold over time. The case measures 40mm and houses the in-house calibre 4130, a movement Rolex introduced in 2000 to replace the outsourced Zenith El Primero-based ebauche. The 4130 features a column-wheel and vertical clutch for precise chronograph engagement, a Glucydur balance wheel, and a power reserve of roughly 72 hours — technical credentials that finally silenced critics who questioned Rolex's chronograph pedigree. The black dial variant of the 116505 pairs three subsidiary registers — hours, minutes, and small seconds — in a complementary black-on-black aesthetic that reads as understated despite the precious metal case.

Among collectors, the 116505 occupies a clear tier: it is the entry point into full Everose Daytona territory, sitting below the gem-set 116505 variants but above the steel and Rolesor references. Grey-market demand for the model has historically tracked well above retail, a reflection of Rolex's constrained allocation policy for precious metal sports watches. The calibre 4130 also enjoys a strong reputation for reliability and ease of servicing, which supports long-term ownership appeal.

Khedira's watch choice fits a pattern common among elite European footballers of his era — a preference for established luxury Swiss chronographs over the more ostentatious independent brands. A World Cup winner with Germany in 2014 and a Champions League winner with Real Madrid, Khedira brought similar composure off the pitch. The Daytona Everose is precisely the kind of watch a player of that calibre reaches for: recognisable to those who know, low-key enough for those who don't.

At the time of the sighting, UK retail on the ref. 116505 stood at approximately £22,000. In USD terms the official list price sat in the high-$20,000 range, while grey-market premiums pushed street prices considerably higher given chronic waitlist constraints at authorised dealers.