Watch Paparazzi

Tennis player Gaël Monfils spotted wearing Rolex

Gaël Monfils, one of the most athletically gifted and sartorially distinctive players on the ATP Tour, was recently spotted wearing a Rolex GMT-Master II 'Pepsi' in 18kt white gold — a reference that sits at the very apex of the GMT-Master family and commands serious collector attention wherever it surfaces.

The watch in question is almost certainly reference 116719BLRO, identifiable by its white gold Oyster case and bracelet, the two-tone blue-and-red 'Pepsi' Cerachrom bezel insert in ceramic, and the characteristic black dial with white gold applied hour markers and Mercedes hands. The Jubilee bracelet — often associated with this precious metal variant — does not appear here; instead, the watch rides on an Oyster bracelet, consistent with certain configurations of the 116719BLRO. The red GMT hand and date aperture at 3 o'clock are clearly visible, completing the signature aesthetic.

Under the caseback sits Rolex's Calibre 3186, a self-winding movement with a Parachrom hairspring offering high resistance to magnetic fields and shocks, beating at 28,800 vph with a power reserve of approximately 50 hours. The GMT complication allows simultaneous reading of two time zones via the additional 24-hour hand — essential kit for a touring professional who crosses continents multiple times a year.

The 116719BLRO holds a unique position in the collector market. While the stainless steel 'Pepsi' (116710BLNR, nicknamed 'Batman' predecessor) commands extraordinary grey-market premiums, the white gold variant occupies a different register entirely — rarer, more formally positioned, yet equally desirable among serious enthusiasts who appreciate precious metal construction with a sports watch soul. Rolex replaced it with the reference 126719BLRO in 2022, featuring the updated Calibre 3285, making surviving 116719BLRO examples increasingly collectible.

Monfils, ranked among the top entertainers the sport has produced, is no stranger to high-horology. His watch choices consistently reflect genuine enthusiasm rather than mere brand endorsement optics. Paired here with a heavily worked silver bracelet set with black stones, this GMT-Master II 'Pepsi' reads less as a status symbol and more as a considered personal statement — exactly the kind of sighting that makes watch-spotting worthwhile.