Watch Paparazzi

Singer Ed Sheeran spotted wearing Rolex

Ed Sheeran was recently photographed wearing a stainless steel Rolex GMT-Master II 'Sprite' on a Jubilee bracelet, reference 126720VTNR — a watch that has generated outsized collector interest since its debut and continues to command a significant premium on the secondary market.

Introduced at Watches & Wonders Geneva in April 2022, the GMT-Master II 126720VTNR broke new ground for Rolex on two fronts. It was the first GMT-Master II in the brand's history to position the crown at 9 o'clock, catering explicitly to left-handed wearers or those who simply prefer the aesthetics of a southpaw layout. The bidirectional, graduated 24-hour Cerachrom bezel in green and black ceramic — earning the 'Sprite' nickname from collectors — sits atop a 40mm Oystersteel case housing the calibre 3285 movement, which offers a 70-hour power reserve, Chronergy escapement, and Rolex's Parachrom hairspring. Pairing that case with the five-link Jubilee bracelet, previously reserved for the black-bezel 'Batman' variants, was itself a statement.

From a collector's perspective, the 126720VTNR occupies a rare position: a functionally purposeful design choice — the lefty crown — wrapped in one of the most desirable bezel colour combinations Rolex produces. It is not a gimmick reference. The crown placement genuinely improves wrist ergonomics for left-handed wearers, and the Jubilee bracelet lends the watch a dressy versatility that the Oyster bracelet cannot match. Demand at authorised dealers has remained intense since launch, with waitlists measured in years rather than months.

Sheeran has demonstrated genuine watch literacy over the years, appearing with pieces ranging from independent watchmakers to blue-chip sports references. The GMT-Master II 'Sprite' fits his profile — understated enough for daily wear, significant enough to reward closer inspection. Wearing it on the right wrist, as the left-hand crown placement encourages, would make the choice all the more intentional.

At a Rolex list price of approximately $11,250, the 126720VTNR is theoretically accessible by luxury-watch standards. In practice, the grey market tells a different story: current secondary-market values sit around $24,000, placing the 'Sprite' Jubilee at roughly double retail — a premium that shows no signs of softening while authorised dealer allocations remain scarce.