Watch Paparazzi

Footballer Cristiano Ronaldo spotted wearing Rolex

Cristiano Ronaldo reached his 1,000th official career appearance in a Juventus shirt last Sunday, and the occasion called for something equally landmark on the wrist. Pitchside observers caught the Portuguese forward sporting the Rolex Yachtmaster II in 18K yellow gold, reference 116688 — a watch that commands attention whether you know horology or not.

The Rolex Yachtmaster II ref. 116688 is a 44mm full yellow gold case paired with a matching 18K Oyster bracelet and the brand's signature yellow gold Oysterclasp with its easy-length extension system. The dial is lacquered white with applied yellow gold hour markers, luminescent hands, and the model's defining feature: the bold 60-minute graduated bezel with its blue Cerachrom insert in ceramic. That bidirectional rotatable bezel is not merely decorative — it is integral to the watch's core function. Inside beats the Rolex Caliber 4161, an in-house automatic movement featuring a programmable mechanical countdown timer with a memory function, allowing a regatta starting sequence between 1 and 10 minutes to be set and reset without stopping the watch. It was among the most ambitious movements Rolex had developed in decades when it debuted in 2007.

Among collectors, the yellow gold 116688 occupies a particular niche. It is unambiguous in its luxury positioning — there is no stainless steel Yachtmaster II, which means every owner has committed to precious metal. The reference has remained in production without significant alteration since launch, a mark of Rolex's confidence in the design. It is less traded on the grey market than the sportier Daytona or GMT-Master II, but retains strong residual value precisely because of its rarity relative to demand.

Ronaldo's relationship with high-end watchmaking is well documented. His collection spans Richard Mille, Jacob & Co., and multiple Rolex references. Choosing the Yachtmaster II for a career milestone of 1,000 games reflects a preference for scale and presence — the 44mm yellow gold case is unmissable, appropriate for someone who has spent two decades refusing to go unnoticed.

At UK list price the ref. 116688 sits at approximately £34,850, translating to roughly $43,500 USD at retail. On the secondary market, yellow gold Rolex sports references carry consistent premiums, with the 116688 typically trading above list price given its discontinued-adjacent status and full gold specification.