Watch Paparazzi

Footballer Neymar Jr spotted wearing Rolex

Neymar Jr, the Brazilian forward who has built one of football's most extravagant watch collections alongside his career at Paris Saint-Germain, was recently spotted wearing one of the most recognisable references in contemporary horology — the stainless steel Rolex Cosmograph Daytona ref. 116500LN in its white-dial 'Panda' configuration. The contrast between the black ceramic bezel and bright white dial is instantly distinctive, and it is the detail that drives collector demand above all others on this particular reference.

Rolex unveiled the reference 116500LN at Baselworld 2016, marking a pivotal moment for the Daytona lineage. The ceramic Cerachrom bezel replaced the older acrylic ring, offering vastly improved scratch and UV resistance while lending the watch a more contemporary visual weight. Underneath the case beats the calibre 4130, Rolex's proprietary automatic chronograph movement featuring a column wheel, vertical clutch, and a 72-hour power reserve. The movement runs at 28,800 vph and is certified as a Superlative Chronometer, accurate to +2/-2 seconds per day. Case diameter sits at 40mm in Oystersteel, with the three-register chronograph layout reading seconds, minutes, and hours against that clean white dial.

The 116500LN has occupied a singular position in the collector market since its debut. Authorised dealer waiting lists stretched for years, and the secondary market premium has remained persistent and steep. The white-dial 'Panda' version consistently attracts stronger premiums than its black-dial counterpart, a reflection of both aesthetic preference and relative scarcity. It has become a benchmark piece — the kind of reference that marks a serious collector rather than a casual buyer.

Neymar's affinity for high-end timepieces is well documented. The Brazilian has been photographed across multiple occasions wearing Rolex, Richard Mille, and Patek Philippe, and his watch choices tend to reflect both mainstream taste and genuine enthusiasm for the subject. The Daytona 'Panda' sits comfortably in his collection as a grounded, versatile choice relative to some of his more exotic pieces.

On the market today, the Rolex Daytona ref. 116500LN carries an official retail price of approximately $14,550. On the grey market, demand keeps values firmly elevated, with the white-dial variant trading at roughly $36,000 — a premium of well over 100 percent that shows no meaningful sign of correction.