Watch Paparazzi

Entrepreneur Alan Sugar spotted wearing Rolex

On the night Joseph was crowned winner of the UK's The Apprentice, all eyes were understandably on the boardroom drama — but those with a trained eye caught something equally compelling on Lord Alan Sugar's wrist: a Rolex GMT-Master II reference 116719BLRO, the white gold 'Pepsi' variant that sits at the very top of the GMT-Master II hierarchy.

The 116719BLRO was introduced at Baselworld 2014, pairing the classic blue-and-red 'Pepsi' bezel — originally seen on the very first GMT-Master ref. 6542 in the 1950s — with an 18k white gold 40mm Oyster case. It runs on the Rolex Calibre 3186, a self-winding movement beating at 28,800 vph with a 50-hour power reserve, Parachrom hairspring, and Paraflex shock absorbers. The bidirectional GMT hand allows a second time zone to be tracked independently of the main hour hand, making it a genuinely functional tool watch despite its precious metal construction.

What makes the 116719BLRO particularly compelling to collectors is its scarcity relative to the far more visible stainless steel GMT variants. White gold Rolex sports references have always been produced in limited numbers, and the 116719BLRO was discontinued and replaced by the updated 126719BLRO — featuring the in-house Calibre 3285 and a revised case and bracelet architecture — effectively closing the book on this generation. Pre-owned examples of the 116719BLRO have held value exceptionally well as a result.

Alan Sugar, the East London-born entrepreneur who built Amstrad into a consumer electronics empire before becoming a household name via The Apprentice franchise, has long favoured serious watchmaking on his wrist. The choice of white gold rather than yellow or Everose gold speaks to a considered, lower-profile taste — technically top-tier, visually restrained.

On the grey market, the 116719BLRO consistently trades above its original retail price. With white gold Rolex sports pieces commanding a premium and this specific reference now discontinued, buyers face meaningful premiums over list. It remains one of the most coveted GMT variants among serious collectors.