Watch Paparazzi

Footballer Erling Haaland spotted wearing Rolex

Erling Haaland was photographed during his Borussia Dortmund years wearing a Rolex Cosmograph Daytona reference 116500LN in stainless steel with a white dial and black Cerachrom bezel — one of the most coveted steel sports watches on the planet and a piece that spent years on Rolex's official waitlist before supplies gradually improved.

The ref. 116500LN debuted at Baselworld 2016, replacing the long-running 116520. The headline change was the introduction of Rolex's proprietary Cerachrom ceramic bezel insert, virtually scratch-proof and UV-resistant, with raised tachymetre markings filled with PVD gold lacquer. Inside beats the in-house calibre 4130, a column-wheel, vertical-clutch chronograph movement with a 72-hour power reserve and a silicon Parachrom hairspring — widely regarded as one of the most technically accomplished chronograph ebauches in modern Swiss watchmaking. The case measures 40mm and is water-resistant to 100 metres, with a Oystersteel bracelet and Oysterlock clasp.

The white-dial 'panda' configuration — white main dial, black subdials at 6, 9, and 12 o'clock — carries particular collector cachet. It echoes the aesthetic of vintage Paul Newman Daytonas that now regularly trade above seven figures at auction, and the 116500LN in white was discontinued along with the black-dial version when Rolex introduced the successor reference 126500LN in 2023. That discontinuation has only sharpened demand for the outgoing reference on the secondary market.

Haaland, whose rapid ascent from Dortmund to Manchester City has made him one of the world's highest-profile athletes, was already developing a reputation as a serious watch enthusiast during his Bundesliga seasons. The Daytona is a logical centrepiece for any collection — aspirational enough to signal discernment, understated enough to wear daily.

At retail, the Rolex Daytona 116500LN carried a list price of approximately $14,870 USD. On the grey market, strong demand has pushed values to around $41,000 USD, representing a roughly 2.75x premium over retail — a reflection of persistent demand that even Rolex's expanded production has not fully absorbed. For a footballer of Haaland's stature, the watch is modest by net-worth standards, but the choice speaks to taste over ostentation.