Footballer James Maddison spotted wearing a Rolex

James Maddison, Leicester City and England international midfielder, was recently spotted on the wrist with one of the watch world's most recognisable and persistently in-demand references — the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona ref. 116500LN in stainless steel with a white dial and black ceramic bezel. It is a choice that speaks to considered taste rather than mere trophy collecting.

The Rolex Daytona 116500LN arrived at Baselworld 2016 as a genuine milestone for the line. Rolex replaced the aluminium tachymetre bezel with a black Cerachrom ceramic insert — virtually scratch-proof and UV-resistant — while retaining the 40mm Oyster case in 904L stainless steel. Under the caseback sits the calibre 4130, Rolex's in-house chronograph movement, which eliminated the vertical clutch and column wheel issues that occasionally troubled its predecessors. The movement offers a 72-hour power reserve and a 28,800 vph beat rate. The white dial, with its three contrasting black subsidiary registers, remains the sharper-looking of the two dial options and the one most closely associated with classic motorsport chronograph aesthetics.

From a collector's standpoint, the 116500LN is one of the defining references of the 2010s. Waiting lists at authorised dealers have stretched for years, and the gap between retail and grey-market pricing has been exceptional — at points exceeding 100% over list. The white-dial version consistently trades at a premium over its black-dial sibling, driven by relative scarcity and collector preference. It sits alongside the Paul Newman Daytona in cultural recognition, if not yet in vintage rarity.

Maddison, known for his creative play and a public profile that extends well beyond the pitch through social media, has developed a visible appreciation for quality timepieces. Spotting a 116500LN on his wrist is consistent with the taste profile of top-tier Premier League footballers who favour recognisable but technically substantive references over pure showpiece complications.

At an official UK list price of £10,500, the Rolex Daytona ref. 116500LN is nominally accessible — but virtually impossible to purchase at that figure without significant authorised dealer history. On the grey market, white-dial examples in unworn condition have traded consistently in the £18,000–£22,000 range in the UK, with USD equivalents typically landing between $22,000 and $28,000 depending on condition and documentation.