Athlete Julian Edelman spotted wearing a Rolex

Julian Edelman, the three-time Super Bowl champion wide receiver for the New England Patriots, was recently spotted wearing a Rolex Milgauss in stainless steel, reference 116400GV — a watch that carries far more technical heritage than its restrained appearance might suggest to the uninitiated.

The Rolex Milgauss ref. 116400GV sits in a 40mm Oystersteel case and is immediately distinguished by its green-tinted sapphire crystal, a proprietary feature unique to this reference within the entire Rolex lineup. Beneath that crystal sits a black or orange dial variant — most commonly spotted with the orange lightning-bolt seconds hand, a nod to the original 1956 model's electro-scientific roots. The movement is the in-house Rolex Calibre 3131, a self-winding mechanical movement with a paramagnetic blue Parachrom hairspring that provides resistance to magnetic fields and improved shock resistance. The watch is rated to withstand magnetic fields of up to 1,000 gauss, a specification that gave the model its name.

First introduced in 1956 and developed in collaboration with CERN — the European nuclear research organization in Geneva — the Milgauss was built for physicists, engineers, and medical professionals working in magnetically hostile environments. After a long discontinuation, Rolex relaunched the line in 2007 with the current 116400 family, cementing its status as a legitimate tool watch with serious horological pedigree. Among collectors, the 116400GV occupies a curious sweet spot: it is technically a current-production Rolex, yet it attracts a more discerning buyer who appreciates function and subtlety over prestige signaling.

Edelman, known for his precise route-running and competitive intelligence on the field, has demonstrated off-field taste that tracks with that profile. The Milgauss is not the obvious celebrity Rolex — that title belongs to the Daytona or the Sky-Dweller. Choosing the 116400GV suggests either strong personal guidance or genuine curiosity about what Rolex actually builds beyond the trophy pieces.

On the secondary market, the Rolex Milgauss 116400GV trades at a modest premium to retail, with grey-market prices historically hovering near or just above list. It remains one of the more accessible Rolex references for collectors who want in-house manufacture, magnetic resistance, and a genuinely distinctive visual identity without the multi-year waitlist drama.