Television presenter Ellen spotted wearing a Rolex

Ellen DeGeneres is not a celebrity who wears watches for show — which makes a sighting of the Rolex GMT-Master II 126710BLRO on her wrist all the more telling. The pairing of the classic 'Pepsi' red-and-blue ceramic bezel with the five-link Jubilee bracelet is precisely what made this reference an instant classic when it debuted at Baselworld 2018, and it remains one of the most recognisable sports watches in the world.

The GMT-Master II 126710BLRO is built around Rolex's in-house Calibre 3285, a movement that represented a significant engineering step forward at its introduction. It runs at 28,800 vph, offers approximately 70 hours of power reserve, and features Rolex's Chronergy escapement — a nickel-phosphorus lever and escape wheel system that improves efficiency by roughly 15 percent over the previous generation. The bidirectional GMT hand can be set independently in one-hour increments, allowing the wearer to track a second time zone without disrupting the running minutes. The 40mm Oystersteel case carries a water resistance rating of 100 metres.

What separates the 126710BLRO from its predecessors is the Cerachrom ceramic bezel insert, which replicates the 'Pepsi' two-tone colourway first seen on the reference 6542 in 1955. For decades, the red-and-blue combination existed only in aluminium, meaning it was reserved for yellow gold variants once Rolex transitioned to ceramic. The 2018 reissue in Oystersteel was greeted with near-unanimous collector enthusiasm — and the decision to mount it on a Jubilee rather than an Oyster bracelet added a vintage sensibility that resonated strongly with long-term enthusiasts.

DeGeneres has long maintained a quietly serious watch collection, with previous sightings including other Rolex sports references. The 126710BLRO suits her measured, classic aesthetic — it is a tool watch with genuine heritage, not a fashion accessory.

On the grey market, the 126710BLRO continues to command a substantial premium over its list price, reflecting persistent authorised dealer waitlists worldwide. It remains one of the defining Rolex references of the past decade.