Watch Paparazzi

Actor Will Ferrell spotted wearing Rolex

Will Ferrell was photographed at a press conference setting against a Jacob's Creek-branded backdrop consistent with Australian Open media facilities, his left wrist carrying what close inspection confirms to be a Rolex Submariner Date on its Oyster bracelet. The watch sits flush and purposefully on his wrist — not a man unfamiliar with the reference.

The Rolex Submariner Date 126610LN is the current-generation steel iteration of Rolex's flagship dive watch, launched at Baselworld 2020 alongside the no-date 124060. Moving to 41mm from the long-running 40mm case of the 116610LN, the update was subtle but meaningful to collectors. The Cerachrom black ceramic unidirectional bezel, scratch-resistant and UV-stable, frames a matte black dial with the characteristic Mercedes hands, luminous dot indices, and a cyclops-magnified date window at 3 o'clock. Powering it is Rolex's in-house Calibre 3235, a COSC-certified chronometer beating at 28,800 vph with a Chronergy escapement and 70-hour power reserve — a substantial improvement over the prior 3135's 48 hours.

The 126610LN occupies a central position in the Rolex collector ecosystem. It is simultaneously the most recognisable luxury sports watch on earth and one of the hardest to acquire at retail. Authorised dealers routinely maintain multi-year waitlists, and the watch has become a cultural signifier well beyond horology circles. Its straightforward black-on-steel execution is considered by many purists the definitive Submariner expression — no two-tone, no precious metal, no colour distraction.

Ferrell is a documented Rolex collector. He has previously been photographed wearing the Submariner 16610LV 'Kermit,' the anniversary green-bezel variant from 2003 that commands significant premiums in today's secondary market. That he also runs the evergreen blacksub in rotation speaks to genuine engagement with the line rather than single-watch ownership.

On the grey market, the 126610LN has softened from pandemic-era highs but continues to trade meaningfully above the $10,100 retail price. Current secondary market values hover between $13,000 and $15,500 depending on condition and paperwork — still a 30–50% premium that underscores the Submariner Date's enduring demand.