The Rolex Oyster Perpetual lacquer dials continue to attract an A-list crowd – a definitive list
Zach BlassUnobtanium. It is a word many collectors use these days, with more and more references fitting this gloomy bill. It sucks to know that when certain brands release new watches, your chances of getting one at retail are quite slim, short of a long buyer’s history or a big dose of luck. So the question is where do these watches go? Well, more often than not, you can rest assured many of the rich and famous are rocking these timepieces. So first up is a watch you may not have expected: the Rolex Oyster Perpetual. It is definitely not the most glamorous watch, so the entry-level Rolex and its popularity with celebrities is a bit of a surprise. But something about its Stella-dial inspired colours, even nearly three years after their release, really seems to catch the eye of A-list individuals.
George Russell & Carmen Montero Mundt: Rolex Oyster Perpetual 41 & 36 Turquoise
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UK Formula 1 driver George Russell may have been caught cheating. Not on his girlfriend Carmen next to him, rather on IWC who sponsors his Formula 1 team. That being said, he can always cheekily blame being caught with a Rolex on Carmen as they lovingly match with their his/her Rolex Oyster Perpetual Turquoise watches in varying sizes.
Tom Brady: Rolex Oyster Perpetual 41 Yellow
Retired NFL Quarterback Tom Brady is known within the watch community for repping TAG Heuer, and more recently IWC, at points in his career. But, it would appear his time as an ambassador has come to an end, with Tom heavily rotating between various Rolex watches at recents events when he is photographed. One of the latest Rolex spots is his yellow dial Rolex Oyster Perpetual 41. As a former Tampa Bay Buccaneer, I would have thought the Coral Red dial would be a more apt choice. But I cannot blame him, the yellow dial is my personal favourite of the Stella-inspired modern Oyster Perpetuals.
Kendrick Lamar: Rolex Oyster Perpetual 41 Turquoise
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Last month, beloved rapper Kendrick Lamar was seen accepting his Grammy award for “Best Rap Song” whilst wearing his Rolex Oyster Perpetual Turquoise 41. He tonally matched his watch, and its dial, with a jacket primarily coloured in adjacent shade of blue. The colourful collection has clearly attracted celebs due to the opportunities they present for pairing, making an entry-level watch more of a statement piece.
Roger Federer: Rolex Oyster Perpetual 41 Yellow & Green
Roger is a known Rolex ambassador, so to say these watches ended up on his wrist organically would be a total fib. As a Swiss native though, he has expressed a genuine love for watchmaking and, it is fair to say, he’d hardly object to having to wear Rolex watches as a part of his partnership with the brand.
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As someone who has the pick of the catalogue, Roger clearly enjoys the Oyster Perpetual – being spotted with both the green dial that speaks to Rolex’s signature colour and the more playful yellow as well.
Lebron James: Rolex Oyster Perpetual 41 Turquoise and Coral Red
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Lebron James, unlike Federer, is not a Rolex ambassador. So it is safe to assume these watches were purchased. A clear fan of the colour play the Oyster Perpetual collection presents, Lebron also has two OPs to rotate on his wrist: the coral red and turquoise.
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The red may be a tribute to his time playing for the Miami Heat and the Cleveland Cavaliers, but the turqouise is perhaps just a result of him digging the color. And as we know from the secondhand market, it is definitely one of the most sought after within the collection.
Lionel Messi: Rolex Oyster Perpetual 41 Yellow
Messi recently made headlines upon the reveal he is leaving football for soccer, leaving the Ligue 1 and PSG to bring his talents to Inter Miami in the USA’s MLS. Of course, American soccer fans are thrilled they will be able to see Messi on the pitch more often. But, off the pitch, Messi has been spotted wearing a Rolex Oyster Perpetual 41 Yellow on his wrist. Inter Miami does have a pink kit, so the Candy Pink OP would be a great option for him to add. But, the yellow definitely has a bit of 80’s Miami Vice vibes as well.
Sylvester Stallone: Rolex Oyster Perpetual 41 Green
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Sylvester Stallone must have a thing for green, because he has also recently been captured wearing yet another unobtanium green watch: the Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711 with a green dial. That watch, however, has a diamond bezel. So, it would seem Sly ops for the Oyster Perpetual when he wants to tone things down a notch. Also, with his massive arms it is crazy how he makes the OP 41 look like a 36 on his wrist.
Mark Wahlberg: Rolex Oyster Perpetual 41 Turquoise
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Mark Wahlberg, like Sylvester Stallone, is a regular on @celebwatchspotter – with a irrefutable passion for collecting wristwatches. One of the latest Rolex additions to his collection is this Oyster Perpetual 41 with a turquoise dial. It is a clear fan favourite within the group, and the Tiffany blue colour is highly versatile.
Jen Selter: Rolex Oyster Perpetual 41 Coral Red and Turquoise
We have previously spotted Jen wearing a Rolex Datejust, proving its robust elegance by wearing it whether working out, playing tennis, or getting dressed up for an night out. On Tik Tok, however, she was recently seen wearing a coral red Oyster Perpetual 41 while nonchalantly swishing a shot into the hoop.
A clear move to match her wardrobe, it speaks to the versatility of the collection and the collectability of the group.
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Jen can be seen once again color matching an Oyster Perpetual with what she is wearing, this time with her Oyster Perpetual 41 Turquoise.
@jenselter A #clumsy ♬ Family Guy – TV Theme Song Library
By owning multiple pieces you can mix and match with different outfits, tailoring the watch to be a perfect accessory to whatever you’re wearing. Like Jen, the watch is inarguably playful – but don’t sleep on its robust qualities as well: it’s not just fashion but function as well.