Footballer Adrián San Miguel del Castillo spotted wearing a Rolex

Liverpool's Spanish goalkeeper Adrián San Miguel del Castillo was recently photographed wearing a Rolex Daytona reference 116503, the two-tone variant that combines a 904L stainless steel case with an 18k yellow gold tachymetric bezel. The sighting adds another entry to the long list of professional footballers who have gravitated toward the Daytona as their wrist statement of choice.

The Rolex Daytona ref. 116503 was introduced in 2000 alongside the full yellow gold 116508 and the full steel 116500, establishing a coherent modern Daytona family. The 40mm case houses Rolex's proprietary Calibre 4130, a column-wheel chronograph movement with a vertical clutch that replaced the ébauche-based Calibre 4130 predecessor in 2000. With a 72-hour power reserve, a chronometer-certified movement beating at 28,800 vph, and a redesigned dial architecture that significantly improved legibility, the 116503 represented a generational leap for the reference.

Collector interest in the 116503 sits in an interesting middle ground. It lacks the cult hysteria of the full steel 116500 — which carries legendary waitlist status — but its two-tone configuration appeals to buyers who find the all-gold 116508 too declarative. The combination of steel and yellow gold has a vintage pedigree stretching back through earlier two-tone Daytona references, lending the 116503 a certain historical continuity that purists appreciate. Dials were offered in black, white, and champagne iterations, each contributing different personality to the same case.

Adrián, who joined Liverpool in 2019 and served as backup goalkeeper during the club's dominant Premier League and European campaigns, has maintained a lower public profile than many of his teammates. His choice of the 116503 — present rather than ostentatious — is consistent with that image. It is a watch worn by someone who knows what they have without needing to announce it loudly.

On the secondary market, the Rolex Daytona 116503 commands a meaningful premium over retail, driven by persistent demand and constrained supply. Grey-market prices have stabilised relative to the post-pandemic peaks but remain well above list, reflecting the enduring appeal of the Daytona name across sport, culture, and serious horology.