The world is slowly returning to normal after the Covid-19 pandemic and a number of events originally scheduled for last year will now make a much anticipated return this summer. One event that many have been buzzing about this week is the UEFA Champions League 2020, which was originally scheduled to take place from 12 June to 12 July last year, but will return from 11 June to 11 July 2021. Despite being postponed for a full year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the football tournament will retain the UEFA Euro 2020 name. The tournament will be held in 11 cities associated with the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), including Amsterdam, Munich, London and Rome and St Petersburg (to name but a few). Some of the biggest names in football will be in attendance and if you know a little bit about the sport, you probably know that they own some pretty awesome watch collections too. Fans will be allowed to attend, although attendance is limited depending on the social distance required. To celebrate the return of Euro 2020, let’s take a closer look at the sport through these football stars with Rolex watches on their wrists.
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Portugal，Rolex Yacht-Master II 116689 – Cristiano Ronaldo
Yacht Prestige II 116689 Key features：
- Year of manufacture: 2010 – present
- Movement: Rolex Calibre 4161
- Functions: time with running seconds, programmable countdown timer
- Case size: 44 mm
- Strap/bracelet: Oyster bracelet
- Materials: 18-carat white gold and 950 platinum
- Bezel: Ring Command, 950 platinum, with 10-minute scale
- Dial: white with luminous hour-markers
- Crystal: Sapphire (flat)
- Water resistance: 100 metres/330 feet
Ronaldo’s collection is not entirely out of reach for most collectors. 116769 TBR is known as the most expensive Rolex and there is also a GMT-Master II with sapphires and rubies.The football star also owns a number of Rolex watches that will appeal to the everyday watch enthusiast. The most notable of these are the yellow gold Yacht-Master II ref. 116688, the white gold and platinum Yacht-Master II ref. 116689, the yellow gold Sky-Dweller ref. 326938, and the stainless steel (ref. 116520) and 18-carat yellow gold (ref. 116528) Cosmograph Daytona.
However, our list is arguably one of the most impressive collections of watches in football. With a reported net worth of $500 million, it’s no surprise that Portuguese player Cristiano Ronaldo has an extravagant watch collection. Not only that, but he also indulges in even more extravagant watches such as the Franck Muller 7008 T INV C INV R, set with hundreds of diamonds and rubies, which some speculate will set you back between $1.5-2 million. He also has a frozen Jacob & Co. with a frozen Grand Baguette diamond in his watch box. 330.800.30.BD.BD.1BD, adorned with 761 diamonds, costs roughly $1 million.
Austria，Rolex Sky-Dweller 326938 – David Alaba
SKY-DWELLER 326938 Key features：
- Year of production: 2012-present
- Functions: Time with running seconds, date display, annual calendar, GMT function
- Case size: 42 mm
- Bezel: Ring Command, 18-carat gold, fluted style
- Movement: Rolex Calibre 9001
- Material: 18-carat yellow gold
- Strap/Bracelet: Oyster bracelet
- Dial: various options available
- Crystal: Sapphire (flat with Cyclops lens)
- Water resistance: 100 m/330 ft
David Alaba currently plays for Bundesliga club Bayern Munich and the Austrian national team. He will join the Austrian team during Euro 2020 to fight for the title.
One particular timepiece that caught our eye was Alaba’s yellow gold Rolex Sky-Dweller ref. 326938, which retails for a whopping $46,650. As impressive as Alaba’s football career, this solid gold watch has a 42mm case and matching 18-carat gold strap, as well as Rolex’s most complex movement to date, the calibre 9001, which offers an annual calendar complication and GMT function.
His latest contract earns him over $14 million per year for the next five years, giving the football star athlete enough cash to spend on some enviable items of luxury watches.
Spain, Rolex Submariner 116618LB – Sergio Ramos
SUBMARINER 116618LB Key features：
- Year of production: 2008 – 2020
- Case size: 40 mm
- Functions: Time with running seconds, date display
- Movement: Rolex Calibre 3135
- Material: 18-carat yellow gold
- Strap/Bracelet: Oyster bracelet
- Bezel: unidirectional blue ceramic insert with 60-minute scale
- Dial: blue with luminescent hour-markers
- Crystal: sapphire (flat with Cyclops lens)
- Water resistance: 300 m/1,000 ft
Ramos was recently spotted wearing the white gold and steel Datejust II model with a black dial. 116334 with a black dial. This watch has been discontinued (along with all Datejust II models) but is still available on the second-hand market for around US$10,000.
Spanish football star and Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos is one of the world’s top players. Although it was later confirmed that he would be leaving the team on 30 June and was left out of the Spanish squad for Euro 2020 after an injury-riddled season, his luxury watch collection is still worth highlighting, with brands such as Patek Philippe, Montblanc , Bulgari and Rolex taking pride of place in his impressive collection of watches.
Sergio Ramos’ Rolex collection also includes the coveted Everose Yacht-Master 126655 Oysterflex strap for $27,300 and the beautiful gold Submariner 116618LB with blue dial and bezel, available on the secondary market for around $40,000.
France, Rolex Submariner 116610LV – Karim Benzema
SUBMARINER 116610LV Key features：
- Year of production: 2010 – 2020
- Functions: time and date display with running seconds
- Case size: 40 mm
- Movement: Rolex Calibre 3135
- Strap/bracelet: Oyster bracelet
- Material: Oyster steel (904L stainless steel)
- Dial: green with luminescent hour-markers
- Bezel: unidirectional green ceramic insert with 60-minute scale
- Crystal: sapphire (flat with Cyclops lens)
- Water resistance: 300 m/1,000 ft
Even the most experienced watch collector, CChen, was impressed by his impressive Rolex line-up, which included the most popular white gold Submariner with a blue dial and ceramic bezel (ref. The Smurf Submariner has been discontinued, but can be bought on the second-hand market for around $40,000 to $50,000. Benzema’s collection also includes the stainless steel Rolex Submariner Hulk (ref. 116610LV) with its striking green dial and ceramic bezel (also discontinued), and the white gold Cosmograph Daytona with mother-of-pearl dial (ref. 116509). Karim’s box also contained an impressive rose gold Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar and at least two different Patek Philippe Nautilus watches (5712G white gold and 5980R rose gold.
Spanish club Real Madrid and French national team striker Karim Benzema is no stranger to the Champions League, having made over 100 appearances since 2006. Benzema is worth around $70 million and has an impressive collection of luxury watches, including many models from Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet and Rolex.