Watch Paparazzi

Footballer Ivan Rakitic spotted wearing Rolex

Following a memorable Champions League clash against Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona's engine room Ivan Rakitic stepped out with one of Rolex's most technically sophisticated sporting pieces strapped to his wrist — the Yacht-Master II in bi-metal steel and Everose gold, reference 116681.

Introduced in 2013, the ref. 116681 represents the mid-tier entry point into the Yacht-Master II family, sitting between the full Oystersteel 116680 and the solid Everose gold 116681's big brother, the 116688. The 44mm Oyster case pairs a 904L stainless steel case body with an Everose gold bezel and crown, a combination Rolex calls 'Rolesor.' The signature white dial with raised gold hour markers and matching Everose gold hands reinforces the two-tone aesthetic without tipping into excess. The Oyster bracelet with the glidelock clasp delivers that signature Rolex wrist presence.

The real story is under the caseback. The calibre 4161, developed exclusively for the Yacht-Master II, is a COSC-certified automatic movement beating at 28,800 vph with a 72-hour power reserve. Its defining feature is the mechanical regatta countdown: a programmable 60-second timer with a synchronisable countdown mechanism operated via the ring command bezel — a genuine sailing instrument, not decorative theatre. That patented bezel directly engages the movement's memory system, making this one of the most purposeful complications Rolex has ever produced.

For collectors, the Yacht-Master II occupies an interesting position. It is one of the few Rolex references that trades at or near retail on the secondary market rather than at significant premiums, partly due to its size — 44mm is a commitment — and its niche complication. That relative accessibility makes it a serious watch for those who actually appreciate what calibre 4161 does, rather than a speculative asset.

Rakitic has long demonstrated a preference for substantial, technically credible watches, and the 116681 fits that profile precisely. The bi-metal configuration softens the sportsman-casual divide, reading as polished without abandoning function. At a UK list price of £18,500, it represents the accessible end of a genuinely complex Rolex complication.