Watch Paparazzi

Footballer Ronaldo Lima spotted wearing Rolex

Brazilian striker Ronaldo Lima — the two-time World Cup winner widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time — was recently photographed wearing a Rolex Sky-Dweller in 18kt white gold on a leather strap, reference 326139, a choice that signals serious horological taste beyond the typical footballer flex.

The Rolex Sky-Dweller ref. 326139 is built around the manufacture Calibre 9001, a 12-ligne movement comprising 40 jewels, a 72-hour power reserve, and a variable-inertia Parachrom hairspring. Its complication list is legitimately impressive for Rolex: an annual calendar that distinguishes between 30- and 31-day months and requires a single correction each year, a dual time zone display via an off-centre 24-hour disc, and the Ring Command bezel — a patented system that uses the rotating bezel to intuitively switch between the watch's three functional modes. It is, by any measure, the most technically ambitious watch in the Rolex Sports and Dress lineup.

First unveiled at Baselworld 2012, the Sky-Dweller was a landmark departure for a brand historically conservative about complications. The white gold variant with leather strap — reference 326139 — sits at the dressier end of the Sky-Dweller family, positioning it closer to a grand complication dress watch than a sports piece. The 42mm Oyster case in white gold gives it genuine presence without the ostentation of a bejewelled dial, making it a favourite among collectors who want complication credibility with Rolex reliability.

Ronaldo Lima's watch choices have long reflected a man comfortable with serious luxury. The 326139, listed at £29,000 in the UK market, occupies an interesting space — priced substantially above a Daytona in steel, yet offering a complication that most Rolex sports references cannot match. It is not a watch bought for resale value; it is bought because the owner understands what is inside the case.

On the grey market, the 326139 in white gold on leather trades in a range broadly consistent with, or slightly below, retail — a reflection of the Sky-Dweller's more considered collector audience compared to the frenzied demand for steel sports models. For Ronaldo, it is simply the right watch for the right moment.