Watch Paparazzi

Footballer Martin Ødegaard spotted wearing Rolex

Martin Ødegaard, Arsenal's playmaking captain and one of European football's most technically refined midfielders, was recently spotted wearing a Rolex GMT-Master II reference 116710LN — a watch that was quietly discontinued in 2019 and has since built a strong secondary-market following among serious collectors.

The 116710LN was introduced by Rolex in 2007 as the all-black-bezel variant of the modern GMT-Master II line. It houses the calibre 3186 automatic movement — a 28,800 vph, 72-hour power reserve workhorse featuring Rolex's Parachrom hairspring for improved resistance to shocks and magnetic fields. The case measures 40mm in Oystersteel, features a Triplock crown and sapphire crystal, and is water-resistant to 100 metres. The defining detail is the monochromatic black Cerachrom ceramic bezel insert, which replaced the earlier aluminium unit and resists fading indefinitely — a technically sound improvement with a cleaner visual result.

When production ended, the 116710LN was replaced by the updated 126710LN, which introduced the calibre 3285 movement, a redesigned bracelet with the Oysterlock clasp, and a slightly larger 40mm case with thinner lugs. The older reference has consequently taken on a collector identity of its own — appreciated for the Cal. 3186, the slightly chunkier lug profile many prefer, and the straightforward black-on-black aesthetic that works on a NATO strap as readily as on the Jubilee or Oyster bracelet.

Ødegaard has shown a consistent preference for understated, considered style both on and off the pitch. A discontinued steel Rolex sport reference fits that profile precisely — it is not a watch purchased for visibility, but for what it represents within watch culture. The 116710LN communicates familiarity with the market without resorting to a tourbillon or a platinum dial.

On the grey market, the 116710LN currently trades between $12,000 and $15,000 depending on condition, box and papers, and bracelet stretch — a meaningful premium over its original retail price of approximately $8,550. Demand remains firm, driven by collectors who want a modern Rolex GMT with proven movement credentials and a closed chapter in the catalogue.