Royal Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani spotted wearing a Rolex

Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani, younger brother of Qatar's Emir and a central figure in the country's ambitious global sports strategy, was recently photographed wearing a stainless steel Rolex GMT-Master II reference 126710BLRO on its five-link Jubilee bracelet — a pairing that carries more horological significance than it might first appear.

The 126710BLRO represents a quiet landmark in Rolex's history. Introduced in 2018, it marked the first time the Geneva manufacturer paired the legendary 'Pepsi' red-and-blue BLRO ceramic bezel with the Jubilee bracelet, a strap previously reserved for the Datejust family. The 40mm Oystersteel case houses the calibre 3285, Rolex's in-house movement featuring a Chronergy escapement, 70-hour power reserve, and the Parachrom hairspring — a meaningful upgrade over the 3186 found in its predecessor, the 116710BLNR. The bidirectional independently adjustable GMT hand allows the wearer to track a second time zone without interrupting the local time display, the core utility for which this model was originally designed in partnership with Pan Am airlines in 1955.

Among collectors, the 126710BLRO occupies a specific tier: universally legible, historically loaded, and stubbornly hard to acquire at retail. The Jubilee bracelet version in 'Pepsi' configuration is widely considered the more refined and wearable of the two bracelet options, contrasted with the sportier Oyster bracelet of the 126710BLRO's sister references. Secondary market premiums have remained persistent since the reference launched, reflecting both genuine demand and constrained authorized dealer supply.

Sheikh Joaan's profile makes the choice of watch quietly fitting. As the head of the Qatar Olympic Committee and the Qatar Football Association, he operates across international time zones on a near-constant basis — making a dual-time complication not merely a status signal but a functional tool. His watch choices have occasionally surfaced in collector circles, and the 126710BLRO sits comfortably within the understated end of the royal spectrum.

At UK list price of approximately £7,150, the Rolex GMT-Master II 126710BLRO retails in the mid-range of the current Rolex professional lineup. On the grey market, demand continues to push transaction prices well above retail, typically landing between $14,000 and $17,000 USD depending on condition and provenance — a premium that shows little sign of compressing in the near term.