Footballer Bukayo Saka spotted wearing a Rolex

Bukayo Saka was photographed arriving at England national team training wearing a Rolex GMT-Master II 'Pepsi' in stainless steel, paired with the model's signature five-link Jubilee bracelet — one of the most talked-about pairings in modern Rolex history. The sighting places one of football's brightest young talents firmly in the company of collectors who understand that the 'Pepsi' GMT is far more than a status piece.

The reference 126710BLRO, introduced at BaselWorld 2018, marked the GMT-Master II's most significant overhaul in years. Rolex fitted it with the calibre 3285, an in-house movement boasting a 70-hour power reserve, Chronergy escapement, and a Paraflex shock absorber — representing a genuine step forward in reliability and precision over its predecessor, the calibre 3186. The bidirectional rotatable bezel carries a 24-hour graduated Cerachrom insert in blue and red ceramic, replacing the aluminium bezels that had defined the 'Pepsi' colourway since 1954.

What made this reference particularly significant for collectors was the reintroduction of the Jubilee bracelet on a GMT-Master II — the first time this had occurred since Rolex discontinued the steel 'Pepsi' altogether in 2005. For over a decade, steel 'Pepsi' examples existed only on the secondary market at premium prices. The 2018 return, with its contemporary finishing and the elegant Jubilee strap, immediately achieved near-mythical status. Demand far outstripped supply from day one, and waitlists at authorised dealers stretched into years.

Saka, who has established himself as one of Arsenal's most important players and a regular England international, wears the piece during a squad gathering — dressed in the England Nike tracksuit. His choice of a steel sport watch over a flashier diamond-set piece reflects an understated sensibility that resonates with the GMT-Master II's dual identity as both a serious tool watch and a refined everyday wear.

On the grey market, the 126710BLRO consistently commands significant premiums. While Rolex lists the reference at $9,750 USD, secondary market values have stabilised around the $22,500 mark — reflecting sustained collector demand and perennially constrained supply. For a watch defined by its history, its movement quality, and its ceramic bezel engineering, that premium is well-supported by fundamentals rather than speculation alone.