Watch Paparazzi

Tennis player Roger Federer spotted wearing Rolex

At a post-match press conference — captured here in what appears to be a BNP Paribas Masters or similar ATP Masters 1000 setting — Roger Federer flashed a Rolex Sky-Dweller in 18K Everose gold on a chocolate alligator leather strap. The sighting coincided with the celebration of his 20th Grand Slam title, a milestone that cemented his status as the greatest of his era. Fittingly, the watch on his wrist was no ordinary timepiece.

The Rolex Sky-Dweller Reference 326135 is distinguished by its 42mm Everose gold case, fluted bezel, and the signature two-tone chocolate dial that combines Arabic numerals with ring-shaped 24-hour indicators for a second time zone. The dial architecture is unlike anything else in the Rolex lineup: twelve off-centred apertures around the periphery display the months via the Saros annual calendar — a system that automatically accounts for months of different lengths, requiring only a single correction each February. The crown-operated functions are managed through Rolex's patented Ring Command bezel, a mechanical interface that links the rotating bezel to the movement's setting functions.

Powering the watch is Calibre 9001, a self-winding movement with a 72-hour power reserve, GMT function, and annual calendar — all integrated into a single architecture. When it debuted at Baselworld 2012, the Sky-Dweller represented Rolex's first entirely new complication in decades, and watch collectors took note immediately. The movement's complexity rivals that of far more expensive independent manufactures.

Federer has been a Rolex brand ambassador since 2006, and his watch choices consistently reflect the brand's positioning at the intersection of sport and luxury. While he is often seen in sportier references during tournament play, this rose gold Sky-Dweller signals a deliberate step toward formal elegance — appropriate for a press occasion of historic significance.

On the secondary market, the Reference 326135 in Everose gold with chocolate dial commands a healthy premium over its original retail price, with grey-market demand remaining steady due to limited availability of gold Sky-Dweller configurations at authorised dealers. Collectors prize the leather-strap variant for its versatility and slightly rarer production numbers compared to the Oyster bracelet version.