Watch Paparazzi

Footballer Manuel Neuer spotted wearing Rolex

Manuel Neuer, the Bayern Munich and Germany national team goalkeeper who redefined the sweeper-keeper role, was recently spotted wearing a stainless steel Rolex Cosmograph Daytona ref. 116500LN — the ceramic-bezelled iteration that remains one of the most coveted sport watches on the planet.

Introduced in 2016, the Rolex Daytona ref. 116500LN replaced the long-running 116520 and marked a significant technical leap for the line. Its most visible upgrade is the Cerachrom bezel — Rolex's proprietary ceramic compound — which resists scratching and UV fading far more effectively than the aluminium inserts it superseded. The case measures 40mm in Oyster steel with a tachymetric scale rendered directly in the ceramic. Beneath the dial, Rolex's Calibre 4130 automatic movement runs at 28,800 vph, offers a 72-hour power reserve, and features a column-wheel chronograph mechanism with vertical clutch for cleaner starts and precise elapsed-time readings. The movement is certified as a Superlative Chronometer to ±2 seconds per day.

From a collector standpoint, the 116500LN occupies a rare position: a current-production reference that commands a substantial premium on the secondary market the moment it leaves an authorised dealer. The black-dial variant — colloquially called the "Panda" in reverse — and the white-dial "Panda" configuration have both driven waiting lists stretching years at authorised retailers worldwide. Purists note that the reference continues the Daytona's lineage back to the 6239 of the early 1960s, a tool watch designed for professional racing drivers and now one of the benchmark references in serious watch collecting.

Neuer, 38, has long been associated with a refined sense of style off the pitch. His choice of the Rolex Daytona ref. 116500LN aligns with a broader pattern among elite European footballers who favour understated, technically credible timepieces over purely fashion-driven alternatives. For a goalkeeper whose career has been defined by precision and control, a chronograph built around accuracy is an apt companion.

At retail, the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona 116500LN carries a UK list price of approximately £9,100. On the grey market, demand continues to push realised prices considerably higher, with the reference typically trading between $25,000 and $30,000 USD depending on dial variant, condition, and completeness of set — a premium that shows little sign of softening.