Watch Paparazzi

Footballer Adam Ounas spotted wearing Rolex

Adam Ounas was photographed wearing a Rolex Cosmograph Daytona ref. 116500LN at the official signing ceremony marking his move to Cagliari Calcio, the Sardinian Serie A club. The image captures the watch clearly on his wrist as he completed paperwork — a fitting backdrop for a timepiece that has long been associated with high-performance and precision.

The Rolex Cosmograph Daytona ref. 116500LN, introduced at Baselworld 2016, represents a genuine generational leap for the model. It houses the in-house Calibre 4130, a column-wheel automatic chronograph movement with a vertical clutch, offering a power reserve of approximately 72 hours. The movement replaced the outsourced Zenith El Primero-based Calibre 4030 that had powered the previous generation, and collectors immediately recognised the significance. The case measures 40mm in Oystersteel, and the bezel — crucially — is now rendered in Cerachrom ceramic, available in black or white. The ref. 116500LN has since been succeeded by the ref. 126500LN, but the 116500 remains enormously relevant on the secondary market.

From a collector's standpoint, the 116500LN occupies a unique position: it was the watch that made the modern Daytona truly desirable again for purists, pairing an entirely Rolex-manufactured movement with the aesthetic refinements the line had long deserved. Waiting lists at authorised dealers stretched to years almost immediately after launch, effectively pricing many buyers out of the retail channel and driving grey-market premiums to extraordinary levels.

Ounas, the Algerian international known for his pace and technical ability across spells at Napoli, Nice, and Celta Vigo, has arrived at Cagliari with considerable pedigree. His choice of the Daytona ref. 116500LN — understated yet universally recognised among watch enthusiasts — suggests a collector with sound taste rather than someone simply chasing visibility.

On the current grey market, the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona ref. 116500LN in Oystersteel trades at a significant premium over its original retail price, which stood at approximately $14,550 USD before the reference was updated. Secondary market values have stabilised somewhat following their pandemic-era peak but continue to command strong multiples, reflecting the enduring demand for Rolex's flagship chronograph.