Watch Paparazzi

Footballer Raheem Sterling spotted wearing Rolex

Raheem Sterling, one of the Premier League's most recognisable attackers during his time at Manchester City, was recently spotted with a Rolex GMT-Master II 'Batman' on his wrist — specifically the stainless steel reference 116710BLNR, a watch that has become considerably more interesting since Rolex quietly retired it in 2019.

The GMT-Master II 116710BLNR was introduced at Baselworld 2013, marking the first time Rolex paired two colours in a single-piece Cerachrom ceramic bezel — in this case, a midnight blue and black combination that collectors immediately dubbed 'Batman.' The 40mm Oyster case in 904L stainless steel houses the in-house Calibre 3186 movement, a COSC-certified automatic beating at 28,800 vph with a 48-hour power reserve and Rolex's proprietary Paraflex shock absorbers. The bidirectional GMT hand allows tracking of a second time zone independently of the 24-hour bezel, making it a genuinely functional traveller's tool, not merely a dress piece.

From a collector standpoint, the 116710BLNR occupies a sweet spot. Its discontinuation in favour of the upgraded 126710BLNR — which swapped the Calibre 3186 for the newer 3285 and shifted to an Oyster bracelet with Glidelock — gave the 'Batman' a hard production cutoff that collectors value. Unworn examples and full-set pieces have appreciated sharply on the secondary market, and demand continues to outpace supply across grey-market platforms globally.

Sterling's choice reflects a pattern among elite footballers who lean toward Rolex sports references rather than the more overtly luxurious complications favoured by some peers. The GMT-Master II is a credible choice — versatile enough for off-pitch appearances, robust enough for daily wear, and now carrying the added appeal of being a recently discontinued reference.

At last known retail the 116710BLNR listed at approximately £6,850 in the UK, though the watch has not been obtainable at that price through authorised dealers for some time. On the grey market, clean examples regularly command a significant premium, with well-kept full-set pieces trading considerably above retail — a reflection of both the reference's desirability and the tightening supply of new-old-stock examples.