Footballer Presnel Kimpembe spotted wearing a Rolex

Paris Saint-Germain and France international defender Presnel Kimpembe was recently photographed with a striking timepiece on his wrist: a Rolex GMT-Master II 'Batman' that has been subjected to a professional skeleton conversion, transforming one of Switzerland's most recognisable sports watches into a bespoke open-worked showpiece.

The base reference is the Rolex GMT-Master II 116710BLNR, introduced at Baselworld 2013 and immediately nicknamed 'Batman' for its black-and-blue bidirectional Cerachrom bezel insert — a first for Rolex in two-tone ceramic. The 40mm Oyster case in 904L stainless steel houses Rolex's in-house Calibre 3186, a COSC-certified automatic movement beating at 28,800 vph with a Parachrom hairspring and approximately 48 hours of power reserve. Standard production examples wear a clean black dial with luminous Mercedes hands and the characteristic GMT hand in contrasting colour.

This example, however, is the work of an aftermarket skeleton specialist — likely a European or Asian atelier offering high-end dial conversions. The movement architecture is fully exposed through an open-worked, blue-tinted dial plate, revealing the gear train, bridges and rotor in considerable detail. The blue colouring on the skeletonized elements ties deliberately to the Batman bezel palette, creating a cohesive aesthetic that Rolex itself would never sanction from the factory. It is worth noting that such modifications void the Rolex warranty and are considered controversial in strict collector circles, though demand for them among athletes and entertainers remains robust.

Kimpembe, known for his expressive personal style both on and off the pitch, wears the piece with understated confidence in a black-and-white portrait setting. The blue flash of the watch dial provides the only colour accent visible, suggesting the footballer was well aware of the visual impact. His watch choices consistently reflect a preference for technically complex or visually arresting pieces rather than safe mainstream selections.

On the grey market, a standard 116710BLNR trades comfortably above retail, typically in the $14,000–$17,000 range depending on condition and papers. A professionally skeletonized conversion by a reputable atelier adds anywhere from $8,000 to $20,000 on top of that base value, though resale liquidity for modified Rolexes is inherently narrower than for factory examples. For Kimpembe, the premium is clearly beside the point.