Watch Paparazzi

Cricketer Virat Kohli spotted wearing Rolex

Virat Kohli, India's most celebrated cricketer and one of the most recognizable athletes on the planet, was recently spotted on the wrist with a piece that immediately caught the attention of watch enthusiasts: the 18KT yellow gold Rolex Daytona reference 116508 dressed in its striking green dial configuration.

The Rolex Daytona 116508 is built around the Calibre 4130, Rolex's proprietary column-wheel chronograph movement introduced in 2000 to replace the older Zenith-based ebauche. The 4130 runs at 28,800 vph, offers a 72-hour power reserve, and features a vertical clutch for clean chronograph starts with virtually zero jump in the seconds hand. The 40mm case is rendered entirely in 18KT yellow gold, and the green dial — featuring subsidiary dials in a contrasting champagne tone — gives the reference 116508 an unmistakable presence that few chronographs can match. The cerachrom bezel in black ceramic provides corrosion and scratch resistance while anchoring the color palette.

Among collectors, the yellow gold Daytona 116508 with green dial occupies a coveted position. Green dials across the Rolex catalog have historically appreciated strongly, and the 116508 green is no exception. It sits alongside the white and champagne dial variants of the same reference but draws considerably more secondary market attention due to its rarity and visual drama. The reference 116508 was succeeded by the 126508 in 2023, making existing examples of the older generation increasingly desirable as the newer movement architecture — the Calibre 4131 — marks a clear generational boundary.

Kohli's relationship with high horology is well documented. The Indian captain has been seen with Rolex pieces on multiple occasions, and his choice of the 116508 in yellow gold reflects both an understanding of the brand's hierarchy and a personal affinity for bold, statement-level timepieces. For an athlete of his global stature, the Daytona in gold reads as a natural — almost inevitable — choice.

On the grey market, the Rolex Daytona 116508 green dial commands a significant premium over its original retail price, reflecting both constrained supply and sustained global demand. With the reference now discontinued in favor of the updated 126508, prices for well-kept examples continue to firm up.