Footballer John Stones spotted wearing a Rolex

John Stones was photographed celebrating Manchester City's 2020/21 Carabao Cup triumph with a Rolex Cosmograph Daytona 116500LN on his wrist — the white-dial stainless steel variant that has become one of the defining grail watches of the past decade. It is the kind of sighting that needs no further context; the 116500LN speaks entirely for itself.

Rolex introduced the reference 116500LN at Baselworld 2016, representing the first substantial redesign of the Daytona family in years. The headline change was the switch from the long-running acrylic tachymeter bezel to a black or white Cerachrom ceramic insert — virtually scratch-proof, UV-resistant and crisply engraved with the tachymeter scale. Beneath the 40 mm oyster case beats the in-house calibre 4130, a column-wheel chronograph movement with a vertical clutch, 72-hour power reserve and a 28,800 vph beat rate. It is widely regarded as one of the finest chronograph ebauches Rolex has ever produced, prized for its reliability and ease of service.

From a collector standpoint, the 116500LN white dial occupies a peculiar position: it is a current-production reference, theoretically available through authorised dealers, yet it has sat on multi-year waiting lists almost continuously since launch. The combination of the ceramic bezel, the proven 4130 movement and Rolex's brand gravity turned it into an instant secondary-market phenomenon. Grey-market premiums climbed steeply through 2021 and 2022, and while values have softened from their pandemic-era peaks, the reference continues to command a meaningful premium over its official retail price.

Stones, a Champions League and multiple Premier League title winner with Manchester City, has cultivated a quiet but discerning taste in watches. Choosing the 116500LN white dial over louder alternatives — Richard Mille, AP Royal Oak Offshore — suggests a collector who understands that understated references often carry the deepest horological weight.

At official retail the Rolex Daytona 116500LN carries a list price of approximately $14,550 USD, though authorised dealer allocation remains extremely tight. On the grey market the stainless steel white dial consistently trades in the $25,000–$30,000 range, reflecting demand that shows little sign of collapsing regardless of broader luxury market fluctuations.