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Tennis player Roger Federer spotted wearing Rolex

Roger Federer has never been shy about his relationship with Rolex — he has worn the crown on his wrist since becoming a brand ambassador nearly two decades ago — but his choice of the Sky-Dweller reference 326933 in two-tone stainless steel and 18kt yellow gold signals a deliberate step up in horological sophistication beyond the Datejust and Submariner territory most celebrities inhabit.

The Rolex Sky-Dweller ref. 326933 is built around the in-house caliber 9001, a self-winding movement that took Rolex several years and significant R&D investment to bring to market when the Sky-Dweller debuted at Baselworld 2012. The movement delivers a 72-hour power reserve, operates at 28,800 vph, and incorporates a Saros annual calendar — displaying the correct month via twelve apertures around the dial — alongside an off-centre 24-hour disc for a second time zone. The Ring Command bezel, a Rolex patent, allows the wearer to switch between setting modes by rotating the bezel, eliminating the need for multiple crown positions. The 42mm Oyster case in Rolesor — Rolex's proprietary term for the steel and yellow gold combination — sits on a matching jubilee bracelet, lending the watch a dressy but not delicate character.

Among collectors, the Sky-Dweller occupies an interesting position. It is Rolex's most mechanically ambitious current production piece, yet it has historically been overlooked by the grey market frenzy that surrounded the Daytona, GMT-Master II, and sports steel references. That relative accessibility made it a genuine value proposition for buyers who wanted genuine complication from Geneva's most recognised manufacture. In recent years, however, collector appreciation for the Sky-Dweller has grown steadily, particularly for two-tone configurations that age well and appeal across demographics.

Federer's connection to Rolex extends well beyond a contractual arrangement. He has been photographed wearing a wide range of references over the years, from vintage Datejusts to modern Daytonas, demonstrating a genuine enthusiasm for the brand rather than a purely transactional relationship. Spotting him in the Sky-Dweller ref. 326933 makes sense — a watch built for the traveller, worn by one of sport's most well-travelled figures.

At launch, the two-tone Sky-Dweller ref. 326933 carried a UK list price in the region of £13,180. Current grey market pricing has moved upward as demand for the reference has firmed, with authorised dealer waiting lists now a reality for popular configurations. For a watch of this mechanical depth, the price-to-complication ratio remains one of the more compelling arguments in modern Swiss watchmaking.