Basketball player Michael Jordan spotted wearing a Rolex

At the memorial service honoring Kobe Bryant, the eyes of the basketball world were fixed on Michael Jordan — and for watch enthusiasts, a closer look revealed the stainless steel Rolex Sky-Dweller reference 326934 on his wrist, fitted with its distinctive sunray blue dial. The setting gave the sighting unusual weight: two of the greatest basketball players in history, united in grief, and Jordan choosing a watch of quiet complexity over outward spectacle.

The Rolex Sky-Dweller ref. 326934 represents the brand's most technically ambitious sports watch. Launched by Rolex in 2012 and initially produced only in precious metals, the Sky-Dweller moved into Oystersteel in 2017 — a decision that immediately broadened its appeal. The 42mm Oyster case houses the caliber 9001, a proprietary self-winding movement featuring a Saros annual calendar — which correctly accounts for months of 30 and 31 days, requiring only a single correction each February — alongside a GMT dual time zone function displayed via an off-center 24-hour disc. The movement runs at 28,800 vph with a 72-hour power reserve and is certified as a Superlative Chronometer. The blue sunburst dial, with its ring-command bezel allowing intuitive function adjustment, reads with clean elegance on the wrist.

Among collectors, the stainless steel Sky-Dweller occupies an interesting position. It carries the complexity of a grand complication at a fraction of the cost of comparable mechanisms from independent houses, yet Rolex's reputation for robustness ensures it functions as a genuine daily wearer. The ref. 326934 with blue dial consistently holds strong demand on the secondary market, particularly since Rolex controls supply tightly across its entire Oystersteel catalogue.

Michael Jordan has long favored Rolex and Richard Mille references, but his choice of the Sky-Dweller for the Kobe tribute — a speech that became one of the most emotionally raw public moments of his career — underlines a preference for substance over showmanship. The watch, like the moment, did not need to shout.

At UK list price equivalent and with grey market premiums persisting across steel Rolex sports references, the ref. 326934 trades comfortably above retail. For a movement of its complexity in an Oystersteel case, it remains one of the stronger value propositions in the current Rolex lineup.