Watch Paparazzi

Actor Saif Ali Khan spotted wearing Rolex

Saif Ali Khan, one of Hindi cinema's most enduring leading men and a member of the Pataudi royal family, was recently spotted wearing what any serious collector would immediately clock: an 18K yellow gold Rolex Cosmograph Daytona reference 116528 fitted with a so-called 'Paul Newman' dial. It is not a combination that goes unnoticed.

The Rolex Cosmograph Daytona ref. 116528 entered production in 2000 as the successor to the long-running ref. 16528. The defining upgrade was the introduction of Rolex's proprietary caliber 4130, a column-wheel chronograph movement developed entirely in-house. The 4130 is regarded by movement experts as one of the most reliable and serviceable chronograph ebauches in modern watchmaking — a significant departure from the Zenith El Primero base used in earlier generations. The case measures 40mm in 18K yellow gold, paired with an Oyster bracelet in matching gold, and houses a dial protected by a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal.

The 'Paul Newman' designation on a modern Daytona requires clarification. Strictly speaking, the original Paul Newman dials belonged to the vintage ref. 6239, 6241, 6262, and 6264 family — exotic dials with Art Deco-style subsidiary registers that Paul Newman famously wore and that now fetch millions at auction. When applied to the ref. 116528, the term refers to a special-order or after-market exotic dial treatment that evokes that aesthetic. It is a detail that separates a standard gold Daytona from something considerably more singular.

Saif Ali Khan's watch sensibility has long leaned toward classic, high-value pieces rather than fashion-forward complications. As a member of one of India's most storied aristocratic families, his watch choices tend to reflect old-money restraint — which makes the gold Daytona with an exotic dial a coherent, if bold, selection.

The Rolex Cosmograph Daytona ref. 116528 carried a UK list price of approximately £28,000 before its discontinuation in the Rolex catalog. On the secondary market, standard examples in yellow gold trade well above retail, while exotic dial configurations command a meaningful premium depending on provenance and condition.