Watch Paparazzi

Footballer Kylian Mbappé spotted wearing Rolex

Kylian Mbappé, one of the most recognizable athletes on the planet, was recently photographed with a Rolex Yacht-Master 40 Ref. 116622 on his wrist — a watch that, despite its nautical branding, has long been embraced by collectors who appreciate precious metal details done quietly.

The Rolex Yacht-Master 116622 occupies a distinctive position in the current Rolex catalog. Its 40mm Oystersteel case is paired with a bidirectional rotatable bezel crafted entirely from platinum — not steel, not ceramic — giving the watch a soft, almost matte grey-toned ring that contrasts elegantly with the rhodium-treated blue dial. That blue sunburst dial, with its applied hour markers and Mercedes hands, is one of the more refined dials in Rolex's sports line. Water resistance stands at 100 metres, and the watch rides on the brand's signature Oyster bracelet with the Oysterlock safety clasp. Inside beats the Calibre 3135, a self-winding movement with a Parachrom hairspring, offering approximately 48 hours of power reserve and chronometer certification from COSC.

First introduced in 1992, the Yacht-Master was conceived as a dressier alternative to the Submariner — sharing its DNA but softened for a lifestyle context rather than a professional diving specification. The 116622 reference, introduced in the mid-2000s, became the definitive expression of that concept in steel and platinum, running until Rolex replaced it with the updated 126622 in 2019. The outgoing reference has since attracted steady collector attention precisely because of that transition.

Mbappé, 25, has emerged as one of the more watch-literate figures in professional football. His choices tend to lean toward classic references rather than overtly flashy complications, and the Yacht-Master 116622 fits that profile: recognizably Rolex, technically accomplished, but not the first watch a casual observer would identify from across a room.

On the secondary market, the discontinued 116622 in steel and platinum with blue dial commands prices comfortably above its original retail, driven by the reference's discontinued status and persistent demand for the platinum bezel variant. For a watch without precious metal case materials, that premium speaks to how well Rolex executed the concept.