Watch Paparazzi

Footballer Riyad Mahrez spotted wearing Rolex

When Algeria lifted the Africa Cup of Nations trophy in 2019, Riyad Mahrez — the tournament's standout performer — was photographed celebrating with a Rolex Cosmograph Daytona ref. 116500LN on his wrist. The white dial configuration against the Cerachrom black ceramic bezel delivers one of the sharpest aesthetic contrasts in contemporary watchmaking, and it is no accident that this particular variant commands a premium even over its black-dial sibling on the secondary market.

Rolex introduced the ref. 116500LN in 2016 at Baselworld, replacing the long-running 116520 and marking the Daytona's transition to a ceramic bezel for the first time. The 40mm Oyster case in Oystersteel houses the in-house calibre 4130, a column-wheel chronograph movement with a vertical clutch that provides near-instantaneous start precision and eliminates the hand-jump common in older lateral-clutch designs. The movement beats at 28,800 vph, offers approximately 72 hours of power reserve, and carries a COSC chronometer certification. The white lacquer dial features three contrasting black subsidiary registers — a layout that references the original 1963 Daytona aesthetic while reading cleanly in modern proportions.

From a collector standpoint, the 116500LN occupies rare territory: it is a current-production reference with the scarcity profile of a discontinued piece. Rolex's constrained supply strategy has made stainless steel Daytonas genuinely difficult to acquire at retail, and the white-dial version consistently trades at a significant premium to list on the grey market. Enthusiasts regard it as a benchmark chronograph — technically accomplished, historically grounded, and visually timeless.

Mahrez, one of the Premier League's most decorated Algerian athletes and a Champions League winner with Manchester City in 2023, has demonstrated consistent taste for understated luxury. Wearing the Daytona during a national championship celebration rather than a red-carpet appearance speaks to the watch's crossover credibility — it works in the locker room and the boardroom equally.

At UK list price of approximately £9,550, the 116500LN is nominally accessible, but virtually no buyer acquires one at that figure. Grey-market values for the white-dial stainless steel variant have settled in the $18,000–$22,000 range depending on condition and papers, representing a sustained two-times-plus multiple over retail that shows little sign of compressing.