Watch Paparazzi

Footballer Karim Benzema spotted wearing Rolex

Karim Benzema was recently photographed at what appears to be a hotel terrace or rooftop lounge, dressed down in a cream half-zip pullover and dark denim — a setting that makes the quiet elegance of his wrist choice all the more deliberate. On his wrist sits the Rolex Cellini Moonphase reference 50535 in 18k Everose gold, one of the few Rolex references that courts the traditional dress-watch collector rather than the sport-watch crowd.

The Rolex Cellini Moonphase 50535 was introduced in 2017 as part of the relaunched Cellini family. Its 39mm Everose gold case houses the calibre 3195 — a self-winding movement featuring a Parachrom hairspring, instant-jump date, and a moonphase display engineered to deviate by only one day every 122 years. The white lacquer dial is bisected by a clean moonphase aperture at 6 o'clock depicting a blued disc with a mother-of-pearl moon, flanked by a date ring. The fluted bezel and alligator strap complete the classical brief with characteristic Rolex precision.

Among collectors, the Cellini line has historically struggled for attention in a catalogue dominated by Submariner, Daytona, and GMT-Master references. That dynamic has shifted in recent years as informed buyers seek out dress complications with genuine horological substance. The 50535's moonphase accuracy and in-house movement give it a credibility that many dress watches at this price point lack, and its relative rarity on the secondary market has begun to attract quiet appreciation from completist Rolex collectors.

Benzema's affinity for serious watchmaking is well documented — the striker has been spotted across multiple high-end references and is known to approach his collection with the same methodical precision he brought to Real Madrid's attack. Choosing a Cellini Moonphase over a more conspicuous Rolex sport model says something deliberate about the wearer's intent.

At a retail price of $28,750 USD, the Rolex Cellini Moonphase 50535 sits at a compelling intersection of brand prestige and genuine complication. On the grey market, examples trade close to or slightly below retail — a rarity for Rolex — making this one of the few references in the catalogue where list price remains a realistic entry point for buyers.