Watch Paparazzi

Writer Danby Choi spotted wearing Rolex

Danby Choi, chief editor of the Copenhagen-based culture newspaper Subjekt, was recently photographed wearing his personal Rolex GMT-Master II 'Batgirl' reference 126710BLNR — a pairing that feels entirely natural for a writer who has made watch culture a recurring subject of his editorial work.

The 126710BLNR debuted at Baselworld 2019 as the successor to the long-running reference 116710BLNR, and it brought meaningful upgrades across the board. Most visibly, Rolex moved the GMT-Master II away from the Oyster bracelet and fitted it with the five-link Jubilee — a configuration previously reserved for the ceramic black-and-red 'Batman' 126710BLRO. The defining aesthetic feature remains the two-tone black-and-blue Cerachrom bezel insert, which earned the watch its 'Batgirl' moniker among collectors, distinguishing it from the earlier 'Batman' on Oyster. The ceramic is virtually scratch-proof and UV-stable, ensuring the colour contrast endures for decades.

Under the Oystersteel case, Rolex installed the calibre 3285 — a generation ahead of the 3186 found in the predecessor. The movement offers a 70-hour power reserve, a Chronergy escapement that improves efficiency by roughly 15 percent, and a Parachrom hairspring. The date mechanism and GMT hand are independently adjustable, and the watch holds COSC-exceeding chronometric certification. It is, by any technical measure, a refined daily instrument.

Collector interest in the 126710BLNR has remained consistently high since release. The Jubilee bracelet was a polarising choice initially — purists preferred the sportier Oyster — but the market quickly endorsed it. Waiting lists at authorised dealers remain lengthy, and grey-market premiums reflect persistent demand. For a reference that retails at a relatively accessible price point within the Rolex sports catalogue, it punches well above its weight in desirability.

Choi's ownership aligns with a broader trend of culture journalists and creative-industry figures gravitating toward the GMT-Master II platform — a watch with genuine utility, recognisable design, and enough horological depth to satisfy a committed enthusiast. On a Jubilee bracelet, the 126710BLNR reads as simultaneously classic and current.