Footballer Manuel Locatelli spotted wearing a Rolex

When Manuel Locatelli sat down to sign his contract with Juventus FC, the cameras caught more than a pen stroke. On his wrist sat a yellow gold Rolex Cosmograph Daytona Reference 116508 with a black 'Paul Newman' dial — a combination that commands serious attention well beyond the football pitch.

The Rolex Cosmograph Daytona Ref. 116508 is part of the current-generation Daytona family introduced in 2000 with the in-house Calibre 4130, a column-wheel, vertical-clutch chronograph movement that replaced the outsourced Zenith El Primero. The Calibre 4130 offers a 72-hour power reserve and is widely regarded as one of the most reliable and precise chronograph movements in production. The 40mm 18k yellow gold case pairs with a black lacquer dial featuring the so-called 'Paul Newman' exotic layout — contrasting subsidiary registers, a tachymetric bezel in matching yellow gold, and applied Rolex coronet indices. The reference uses an Oyster bracelet in 18k yellow gold, contributing to a substantial overall presence.

The 'Paul Newman' designation on a modern Daytona is a point of genuine collector debate. The nickname historically belongs to the vintage Ref. 6239, 6241, 6262, and 6265 models with their distinctive art-deco subdial typography, made famous by the actor's personal Ref. 6239. Applying it to the Ref. 116508 is technically a stretch, yet the tri-colour register contrast and exotic dial architecture draw a clear aesthetic lineage. It remains one of the most desirable dial configurations Rolex currently produces, and waiting lists at authorised dealers are notoriously long.

Locatelli, who joined Juventus from Sassuolo in the summer of 2021 after a standout UEFA Euro 2020 campaign with the Italian national team, has cultivated a reputation for understated precision — on and off the pitch. The choice of a technically serious, historically layered watch over a more obvious flashy piece reads as consistent with that image.

On the grey market, the yellow gold Rolex Cosmograph Daytona Ref. 116508 with black dial commands a substantial premium over its official retail price, reflecting both restricted authorised dealer availability and sustained global demand for gold Daytonas in any configuration.