Watch Paparazzi

Footballer Reece James spotted wearing Rolex

Reece James, Chelsea FC's first-choice right back and one of English football's most decorated young defenders, was recently spotted wearing a Rolex Cosmograph Daytona Reference 116509 in 18k white gold with a striking blue dial — a piece that sits firmly at the upper tier of Rolex's sports-luxury output.

The Daytona 116509 was introduced as part of Rolex's broader push to offer the Daytona in precious metal variants alongside the steel 116500LN. The 40mm white gold case houses the Calibre 4130, Rolex's entirely in-house chronograph movement developed after years of R&D and introduced in 2000. The Cal. 4130 uses a column wheel and vertical clutch architecture — hallmarks of serious chronograph engineering — and delivers a 72-hour power reserve. The blue dial, with its white gold subdials and matching tachymetre bezel, gives the watch a composed, almost formal character unusual in a motorsport chronograph.

From a collector standpoint, the 116509 occupies an interesting position. It lacks the cult hysteria of the steel Daytona, but that is precisely why serious collectors respect it. White gold Daytonas attract buyers who prioritise substance over hype. The reference is no longer in production, having been succeeded by the 126509 in 2023, which adds value pressure to existing examples. Finding a clean, full-set 116509 with a blue dial through authorised channels has been essentially impossible for years.

James, 25, has built a reputation as one of the Premier League's most complete fullbacks, winning the Champions League with Chelsea in 2021. Off the pitch, he has demonstrated consistent taste in horology — this Daytona sighting fits a pattern of considered, high-specification choices rather than flashy complications for their own sake.

On the current grey market, the Daytona 116509 in blue dial trades around $60,000 USD — a meaningful premium over its $44,000 list price. With the reference now discontinued, that spread is unlikely to compress. For collectors watching both football and watches, James wearing the 116509 is a reminder that the white gold Daytona remains one of Rolex's most underappreciated serious pieces.