Football manager Simone Inzaghi spotted wearing a Rolex

Simone Inzaghi, the Inter Milan manager who guided the Nerazzurri to a Serie A Scudetto in 2024 and back-to-back Champions League final appearances, has been spotted wearing the stainless steel Rolex GMT-Master II 'Batman,' reference 116710BLNR — a watch that carries as much technical history as its wearer carries tactical acumen.

The Rolex GMT-Master II 116710BLNR was introduced at Baselworld 2013, and its arrival was the direct result of years of ceramic research. Rolex had mastered monochromatic Cerachrom bezels in 2005 and introduced the first two-tone version — the 'Pepsi' blue-and-red — exclusively in 18k white gold on the ref. 116719BLRO in 2007, because replicating a sufficiently stable red hue in ceramic at scale proved technically prohibitive for a stainless steel production run. The solution for steel came six years later: a blue-and-black insert, instantly christened 'Batman' by the collector community. Inside sits the calibre 3186, a self-winding movement beating at 28,800 vph, featuring Rolex's Parachrom hairspring for improved resistance to magnetic fields and shocks, with a 48-hour power reserve.

From a collector standpoint, the 116710BLNR occupies a fascinating position. It was discontinued in 2019 when Rolex introduced the updated GMT-Master II 126710BLNR with the calibre 3285 and a Jubilee bracelet option — instantly dubbed the 'Batman II' or 'Batgirl.' The original ref. 116710BLNR has since acquired genuine vintage-transition status: it is the last Batman on the 3186 movement and the last on the Oyster-only bracelet configuration, details that resonate with purists.

Inzaghi's choice fits a broader pattern among elite European football managers, who tend to gravitate toward recognisable but technically credible sports watches rather than overt luxury dress pieces. The GMT complication — designed to track two time zones simultaneously — is also practically apt for a coach who travels extensively across European competitions. For Inzaghi, a Piacenza native who spent 13 seasons as a striker before moving into management, the 'Batman' is a considered choice rather than a statement piece.

On the secondary market, the ref. 116710BLNR commands a solid premium over its original retail price of approximately $9,700. Grey-market values have stabilised post-pandemic but continue to trade well above retail, reflecting sustained demand for discontinued steel Rolex sports references with the Cerachrom bezel.