Watch Paparazzi

Footballer Roberto Baggio spotted wearing Rolex

Qatar 2022 brought more than football drama — it delivered one of the cleanest watch spottings of the tournament. Italian football legend Roberto Baggio, the 1993 Ballon d'Or winner and one of the most revered players in Serie A history, was photographed in the stands wearing a Rolex Cosmograph Daytona in solid 950 platinum, reference 116506. The sighting was documented and confirmed by trusted Mondani Web dealer Uhren.2000.

The Ref. 116506 is the apex of the Daytona lineup, introduced by Rolex in 2013 as a platinum-exclusive configuration. It is immediately identifiable by three signature details visible in this image: the characteristic ice-blue lacquered dial — a finish Rolex reserves strictly for its platinum sports models — the unique chestnut brown ceramic Cerachrom bezel insert, and the solid platinum Oyster bracelet. No steel, gold, or Everose variant shares this exact colour combination, making misidentification virtually impossible. The calibre 4130 movement inside — a column-wheel, vertical-clutch chronograph with 72-hour power reserve — is widely regarded as one of the finest in-house chronograph ebauches in production watchmaking.

Among collectors, the 116506 occupies a singular position. Waiting lists at authorised dealers routinely stretched to a decade before Rolex discontinued the reference and replaced it with the 126506 in 2023, which introduced a redesigned case and updated movement architecture. An original 116506 in unworn condition now carries significant premium on the secondary market precisely because of its discontinuation and the near-mythological status of the platinum Daytona format.

Baggio's personal style has long leaned toward understated luxury — consistent with a man whose football spoke loudest on the pitch. Choosing the most restrained colourway in the Daytona family, rather than a flashier gold reference, is entirely in character. The ice-blue and chocolate pairing is elegant without ostentation.

Retail on the now-discontinued 116506 was set at approximately $75,900 USD. On the grey market, demand for unworn examples has pushed values to the $90,000–$110,000 range, with box-and-papers specimens from reputable dealers commanding the upper end. For a piece of this calibre on the wrist of a footballing legend, the exposure is priceless.