Watch Paparazzi

Mixed martial artist Conor McGregor spotted wearing Rolex

Conor McGregor has built a horological wardrobe as aggressive as his fighting style, and his latest sighting adds serious weight to that collection. The UFC champion was photographed wearing an 18K yellow gold Rolex Sky-Dweller reference 326138 fitted on a leather strap — a pairing that tempers the watch's overt luxury with a slightly more formal sensibility.

The Sky-Dweller ref. 326138 is among the most technically ambitious watches in the Rolex catalog. Introduced in 2012, the Sky-Dweller debuted the caliber 9001, a manufacture movement comprising 40 jewels and 531 components. It delivers an annual calendar — one that automatically distinguishes 30- from 31-day months, requiring only a single correction per year in February — alongside an off-center 24-hour disc for a second time zone. The ring-command system, which uses the rotating bezel to switch between three setting modes, remains one of Rolex's most elegant functional innovations. Power reserve sits at approximately 72 hours, and the movement beats at 28,800 vph.

In 18K yellow gold, the ref. 326138 occupies the premium tier of the Sky-Dweller family. The 42mm case is entirely in Rolex's proprietary 18K Everose or yellow gold depending on configuration, and the version McGregor wears — yellow gold — pairs a sunray-finish dial with fluted bezel detailing that emphasizes the model's grand complication status. On a leather strap rather than the integrated Oyster bracelet, it reads more like a haute horlogerie dress watch than a sports piece, which is a deliberate and interesting choice.

Among collectors, the Sky-Dweller has taken time to earn respect. Early critics called it too large or too complicated for Rolex's traditional DNA, but the market has since corrected that opinion sharply. Grey market premiums on gold references have climbed steadily, and the ref. 326138 now trades well above its retail price.

McGregor, whose watch collection spans Richard Mille, Patek Philippe, and multiple Rolex references, gravitates toward pieces that project wealth without requiring explanation. The Sky-Dweller ref. 326138 in yellow gold does exactly that — technically credible, visually commanding, and unmistakably expensive.