Footballer Lionel Messi spotted wearing a Rolex

Lionel Messi marked another birthday in characteristically understated style — at least by his own standards — appearing publicly wearing one of the rarest and most opulent Rolex Submariners ever catalogued. The reference in question, the 116659SABR, is not a watch that turns up on wrists every day, and its presence on the world's most decorated footballer is entirely appropriate.

The Rolex Submariner 116659SABR is built on the calibre 3135 automatic movement, a workhorse of Swiss precision offering approximately 48 hours of power reserve, running at 28,800 vph with a Parachrom hairspring for enhanced shock and temperature resistance. The case measures the classic 40mm and is crafted entirely in 18K white gold — itself a significant departure from the steel and yellow gold variants most collectors know. What sets the 116659SABR apart from every other Submariner is its factory gem setting: 27 dark blue baguette sapphires replace the traditional ceramic or aluminium bezel insert, while 11 baguette-cut diamonds mark the hours on the dial. The result is a dive watch that retains full 300-metre water resistance while doubling as serious high jewellery.

Among collectors, the 116659SABR occupies a peculiar and coveted niche. Rolex produces gem-set references in carefully controlled volumes, and the baguette sapphire bezel configuration is among the most labour-intensive to assemble. The watch rarely appears at auction and almost never surfaces on the grey market at any price — when it does, premiums are steep and immediate. Its combination of technical legitimacy and decorative excess makes it a crossover piece appealing to both serious Rolex collectors and jewellery buyers.

Messi's relationship with high-end timepieces is well documented. The Argentine forward has been spotted across a broad spectrum of collector watches, but the 116659SABR signals a deliberate choice — a birthday piece that is simultaneously recognisable as a Submariner and radically removed from what most people associate with the model. During his time at PSG, Messi consistently used public appearances to showcase some of the more unusual corners of his collection.

At retail, the Rolex Submariner 116659SABR listed at approximately $92,000 USD. On the current grey market, driven by scarcity and sustained demand from high-net-worth buyers worldwide, the watch commands in the region of $220,000 USD — more than double its original list price, confirming the 116659SABR as one of the stronger investments in the modern Rolex catalogue.