Watch Paparazzi

Actor Will Smith spotted wearing Rolex

Will Smith was photographed at what appears to be a press or entertainment industry event, leaning relaxed over a wooden surface in a patterned knit sweater, the stainless steel bracelet of a Rolex Submariner Date just visible on his left wrist. The sighting comes in the wake of his SAG Award win for Best Actor for his portrayal of Richard Williams in King Richard — and the watch on his wrist is every bit as understated and authoritative as that performance.

The watch is a Rolex Submariner Date reference 116610LN, produced from 2010 until it was succeeded by the 126610LN in 2020. The 116610LN was a landmark update to the Submariner lineage: it introduced the black Cerachrom ceramic bezel insert, a 40mm Oystersteel case with Oyster bracelet featuring the Glidelock clasp extension system, and the proven Calibre 3135 self-winding movement offering a 48-hour power reserve, Parachrom hairspring, and COSC chronometer certification. Water resistance stands at 300 metres. The matte black dial with applied luminous hour markers and Mercedes hands is textbook Sub.

The 116610LN occupies a unique position in the collector market. It is simultaneously a watch for the newcomer — the first serious piece many enthusiasts acquire — and a reference that seasoned collectors retain for its sheer versatility and heritage lineage stretching back to ref. 6204 in 1953. The Cerachrom bezel insert was a decisive improvement over aluminium in both durability and aesthetic longevity, and its introduction made the 116610LN the benchmark against which all production-era Submariners are judged.

Will Smith's choice of the Submariner Date reflects a pattern common among A-list talent in Hollywood: a preference for watches that signal taste without ostentation. The Sub reads equally well on a film set, at an awards ceremony, or at a casual industry gathering — exactly the scenario captured here.

On the grey market the 116610LN — now discontinued — has seen sustained demand. Collectors seeking the 40mm case size over the current 41mm 126610LN continue to drive premiums for clean examples. It is a reference that rewards patience and holds value with rare consistency.