Footballer Virgil Van Dijk spotted wearing a Rolex

Virgil van Dijk, the Netherlands captain and Liverpool FC defensive cornerstone, was recently spotted wearing one of the most sought-after sport-luxury watches on the market: the stainless steel Rolex GMT-Master II reference 126710BLRO, fitted on the brand's classic Jubilee bracelet. For a player of van Dijk's stature — a Champions League winner and perennial Ballon d'Or contender — the choice of watch is quietly confident rather than ostentatious, which is precisely what makes it interesting.

The 126710BLRO sits at the top of the GMT-Master II stainless steel hierarchy. Its 40 mm Oystersteel case houses Rolex's in-house Calibre 3285, a movement that represented a significant upgrade over its predecessor when introduced. The cal. 3285 offers a 70-hour power reserve, Rolex's Chronergy escapement for improved energy efficiency, and a GMT hand that can be set independently in one-hour increments — making it a genuine dual-time instrument rather than a mere aesthetic exercise. The bidirectional rotatable bezel is fitted with Rolex's proprietary Cerachrom ceramic insert in the red-and-blue 'Pepsi' colorway, virtually scratch-proof and UV-resistant.

The collector significance of the 126710BLRO cannot be overstated. When Rolex reintroduced the steel Pepsi at Baselworld 2018 after roughly a 16-year absence from the steel lineup, the watch world reacted with genuine excitement. The pairing with a Jubilee bracelet — previously reserved for dressier Rolex references — added an unexpected elegance to the sporty GMT platform. Authorized dealer waiting lists stretched for years, and grey-market premiums ballooned accordingly. It remains one of the hardest Rolex references to obtain at retail.

Van Dijk's affinity for the 126710BLRO fits a recognizable pattern among elite footballers who gravitate toward Rolex's sport models — watches that carry weight in horological circles without veering into the maximalist territory of high-complication dress pieces. The GMT-Master II occupies a unique position as a watch that satisfies both the connoisseur and the casual observer.

At UK list price the 126710BLRO retails at approximately £7,150, translating to roughly $9,000 USD at current rates. On the grey market, however, strong demand continues to push transaction prices meaningfully above retail, typically in the $13,000–$16,000 range depending on condition and provenance — a premium that shows little sign of collapsing so long as authorized dealer supply remains constrained.