Watch Paparazzi

Actor Zac Efron spotted wearing Rolex

Zac Efron added credibility to his watch collector credentials when he was photographed wearing a Rolex Cosmograph Daytona ref. 116523 in bi-metal Rolesor configuration — stainless steel case and bracelet with 18k yellow gold bezel, crown guards, and chronograph pushers. It is a restrained choice for a Hollywood leading man, and all the more interesting for it.

The ref. 116523 was introduced in the early 2000s as part of Rolex's transition to the calibre 4130, the brand's first fully in-house chronograph movement. That move ended a long reliance on the modified Zenith El Primero ebauche used in references 16520 and its predecessors. The cal. 4130 runs at 28,800 vph, offers a 72-hour power reserve, and features a column-wheel and vertical clutch — architecture that dramatically improved chronograph performance and serviceability. The 40mm case in Oystersteel paired with the Oyster bracelet gives the 116523 a wearability that the full-gold versions simply cannot match on a daily basis.

Among collectors, the 116523 occupies a nuanced position. It lacks the explosive secondary-market premium of its stainless steel sibling, the ref. 116500LN with ceramic bezel, but it carries genuine horological substance. The bi-metal Daytona has a loyal following among those who find the all-steel Daytona too understated and the full yellow-gold ref. 116528 too loud. The silver dial variant — most likely what Efron is wearing — reads with exceptional clarity and ages gracefully.

Efron, best known for his roles in High School Musical and the Neighbors franchise, has matured considerably as a public figure, and his watch choices reflect that trajectory. The Daytona ref. 116523 is not a watch purchased for attention; it is a watch purchased for knowledge. That distinction matters in collector circles.

On the current grey market, the ref. 116523 trades at a moderate premium over its original retail price, buoyed by sustained demand for Daytona references across all configurations. With Rolex having discontinued the steel-bezel Daytona generation in favour of ceramic, examples of the 116523 carry a degree of scarcity that will only increase over time — making Efron's wrist real estate a quietly smart long-term hold.