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All the watch news, reviews, videos you want, brought to you from fellow collectors
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The 2026 Wimbledon Championships just concluded with Jannik Sinner bagging the trophy in the Gentlemen's Singles and Linda Nosková in the Ladies' Singles. While the prestigious trophy was the centre of attraction on Centre Court, the timepiece on the Italian tennis player’s wrist also grabbed the eyeballs. This was a 40 mm Rolex Cosmograph Daytona (Ref. 126515LN) in 18K Everose gold with a distinctive "Sundust" dial that reflects champagne, rose, and soft copper tones under different angles of reflection of the light, a Cerachrom bezel, and a dark Oysterflex bracelet – presently priced at INR 41,59,000. Sinner, who is an official Rolex brand ambassador, wore the very same watch after his first Wimbledon triumph in 2025. Rolex fans and watch lovers did not miss this; some even called it his “lucky charm.”
On the stands, while the spectators relished the traditional ‘Strawberries and Cream’ – an estimated 28,000 kilograms of strawberries and 10,000 litres of cream are consumed each year – and the fancy handheld fans helped beat the intense 30°C London heatwave, it was the perfectly tailored outfits and classy watches that made it to the headlines when the cameras captured the renowned faces. There were Cartiers, Tudors, Omegas, among others, and of course Rolexes, which have been there for 48 years.
Also Read: Ernest Hemmingway, the code of time, and the Rolex on his wrist
Rolex and Wimbledon’s partnership remains one of the longest-running and most recognisable collaborations in sport. Since becoming the tournament’s Official Timekeeper in 1978, the Swiss watchmaker has played an integral role in the Championships, overseeing official timekeeping, court clocks, match timing, Centre Court branding, trophy presentations, and global advertising campaigns featuring Wimbledon champions. Nearly five decades later, Rolex has become as much a part of Wimbledon’s identity as its grass courts, all-white dress code, and longstanding traditions.
The partnership began at a pivotal moment for tennis. It was during the late 1970s that television audiences were rapidly growing. Björn Borg, a Swedish former tennis player, had emerged as an international star, and professional tennis was evolving into a global commercial sport. Rolex entered the sport at this turning point and has since expanded its presence across virtually every major tennis event – Australian Open, Roland-Garros, US Open, ATP Tour, WTA Tour, ATP Finals, WTA Finals, and Laver Cup – making it one of the most influential luxury brands in professional tennis. It is needless to say, Wimbledon is one of the most luxurious sports events in the world. It is its traditions and this mature partnership with one of the best watch brands that it remains as exclusive as the Rolex Daytona.
The two are natural partners; they share similar values centred on heritage, precision, excellence, longevity, and timeless design. Rather than relying on changing marketing campaigns, Rolex's presence at Wimbledon has stayed consistent. The iconic green Rolex clocks are positioned around Centre Court and the tournament grounds, alongside Rolex scoreboards, broadcast time graphics, hospitality areas, and branding during trophy presentations.
Also Read: A 'Barbie' for the boys
A roster of Wimbledon champions who serve as Rolex ambassadors further strengthens the partnership. The legend Roger Federer, whose enduring partnership with Rolex began in 2001 before transitioning into a landmark, long-term alignment in 2006, remains the brand’s most recognisable tennis ambassador. Having won a men’s record eight Wimbledon singles titles (2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012, and 2017), Federer continues to feature prominently in Rolex’s Wimbledon campaigns and is frequently seen wearing models such as the Datejust, Cosmograph Daytona, Sky-Dweller, and GMT-Master II. This year, he was spotted wearing Rolex Datejust II Ref. 116334 – a discontinued 41 mm stainless steel model estimated to be between 9 lakh and 12 lakh as per the current price listed on Chrono24.
The current generation of ambassadors includes the young 23-year-old Spanish player Carlos Alcaraz, Wimbledon champion in 2023 and 2024, and Polish player Iga Świątek, who also lifted the Wimbledon trophy in 2025 (Ladies' Singles) alongside Sinner. Former champions associated with Rolex include Stefan Edberg, Rod Laver, Chris Evert, and Björn Borg, while newer ambassadors such as Coco Gauff, João Fonseca, Ben Shelton, and Holger Rune represent the brand's future in tennis. Beyond the athletes, it was Indian actor and Rolex’s latest testimonee Priyanka Chopra – joined in June 2026 – who was spotted on the front row this year with a Datejust 31 (Ref. 278383RBR) with an olive-green diamond-set dial and a Jubilee bracelet.
No partnership is complete without special watches. Among collectors, the watch most closely associated with the tournament is the Rolex Datejust “Wimbledon,” an unofficial nickname given to Datejust models featuring a slate-grey dial with green Roman numerals and green accents inspired by the Championships. The timepiece comes in 36 mm and 41 mm sizes with Jubilee or Oyster bracelets, and either fluted or smooth bezels, and the dial has become one of Rolex's most recognisable modern designs. Although enthusiasts often interpret the single luminous marker at 9 o'clock as a subtle reference to Wimbledon's court layout, Rolex has never officially confirmed this.
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Also Read: Watches and Wonders 2026: Rolex celebrates 100 years of Oyster
The other Rolex models frequently associated with Wimbledon include the Cosmograph Daytona, worn by several champions including Federer and Sinner following major victories, as well as the Sky-Dweller, GMT-Master II, and Oyster Perpetual, which regularly appear on the wrists of Rolex ambassadors during the Championships.
As the sun sets on another British summer and the pristine lawns of Centre Court are rested for another year, the green and gold clocks remain a constant. Nearly half a century after it began, the Rolex-Wimbledon partnership is one of sport’s most successful long-term collaborations, and, having evolved beyond sponsorship, Rolex has become an inseparable part of Wimbledon’s visual identity – standing together as custodians of a rare, quiet constancy.
The 2026 Wimbledon Championships just concluded with Jannik Sinner bagging the trophy in the Gentlemen's Singles and Linda Nosková in the Ladies' Singles. While the prestigious trophy was the centre of attraction on Centre Court, the timepiece on the Italian tennis player’s wrist also grabbed the eyeballs. This was a 40 mm Rolex Cosmograph Daytona (Ref. 126515LN) in 18K Everose gold with a distinctive "Sundust" dial that reflects champagne, rose, and soft copper tones under different angles of reflection of the light, a Cerachrom bezel, and a dark Oysterflex bracelet – presently priced at INR 41,59,000. Sinner, who is an official Rolex brand ambassador, wore the very same watch after his first Wimbledon triumph in 2025. Rolex fans and watch lovers did not miss this; some even called it his “lucky charm.”
On the stands, while the spectators relished the traditional ‘Strawberries and Cream’ – an estimated 28,000 kilograms of strawberries and 10,000 litres of cream are consumed each year – and the fancy handheld fans helped beat the intense 30°C London heatwave, it was the perfectly tailored outfits and classy watches that made it to the headlines when the cameras captured the renowned faces. There were Cartiers, Tudors, Omegas, among others, and of course Rolexes, which have been there for 48 years.
Also Read: Ernest Hemmingway, the code of time, and the Rolex on his wrist
Rolex and Wimbledon’s partnership remains one of the longest-running and most recognisable collaborations in sport. Since becoming the tournament’s Official Timekeeper in 1978, the Swiss watchmaker has played an integral role in the Championships, overseeing official timekeeping, court clocks, match timing, Centre Court branding, trophy presentations, and global advertising campaigns featuring Wimbledon champions. Nearly five decades later, Rolex has become as much a part of Wimbledon’s identity as its grass courts, all-white dress code, and longstanding traditions.
The partnership began at a pivotal moment for tennis. It was during the late 1970s that television audiences were rapidly growing. Björn Borg, a Swedish former tennis player, had emerged as an international star, and professional tennis was evolving into a global commercial sport. Rolex entered the sport at this turning point and has since expanded its presence across virtually every major tennis event – Australian Open, Roland-Garros, US Open, ATP Tour, WTA Tour, ATP Finals, WTA Finals, and Laver Cup – making it one of the most influential luxury brands in professional tennis. It is needless to say, Wimbledon is one of the most luxurious sports events in the world. It is its traditions and this mature partnership with one of the best watch brands that it remains as exclusive as the Rolex Daytona.
The two are natural partners; they share similar values centred on heritage, precision, excellence, longevity, and timeless design. Rather than relying on changing marketing campaigns, Rolex's presence at Wimbledon has stayed consistent. The iconic green Rolex clocks are positioned around Centre Court and the tournament grounds, alongside Rolex scoreboards, broadcast time graphics, hospitality areas, and branding during trophy presentations.
Also Read: A 'Barbie' for the boys
A roster of Wimbledon champions who serve as Rolex ambassadors further strengthens the partnership. The legend Roger Federer, whose enduring partnership with Rolex began in 2001 before transitioning into a landmark, long-term alignment in 2006, remains the brand’s most recognisable tennis ambassador. Having won a men’s record eight Wimbledon singles titles (2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012, and 2017), Federer continues to feature prominently in Rolex’s Wimbledon campaigns and is frequently seen wearing models such as the Datejust, Cosmograph Daytona, Sky-Dweller, and GMT-Master II. This year, he was spotted wearing Rolex Datejust II Ref. 116334 – a discontinued 41 mm stainless steel model estimated to be between 9 lakh and 12 lakh as per the current price listed on Chrono24.
The current generation of ambassadors includes the young 23-year-old Spanish player Carlos Alcaraz, Wimbledon champion in 2023 and 2024, and Polish player Iga Świątek, who also lifted the Wimbledon trophy in 2025 (Ladies' Singles) alongside Sinner. Former champions associated with Rolex include Stefan Edberg, Rod Laver, Chris Evert, and Björn Borg, while newer ambassadors such as Coco Gauff, João Fonseca, Ben Shelton, and Holger Rune represent the brand's future in tennis. Beyond the athletes, it was Indian actor and Rolex’s latest testimonee Priyanka Chopra – joined in June 2026 – who was spotted on the front row this year with a Datejust 31 (Ref. 278383RBR) with an olive-green diamond-set dial and a Jubilee bracelet.
No partnership is complete without special watches. Among collectors, the watch most closely associated with the tournament is the Rolex Datejust “Wimbledon,” an unofficial nickname given to Datejust models featuring a slate-grey dial with green Roman numerals and green accents inspired by the Championships. The timepiece comes in 36 mm and 41 mm sizes with Jubilee or Oyster bracelets, and either fluted or smooth bezels, and the dial has become one of Rolex's most recognisable modern designs. Although enthusiasts often interpret the single luminous marker at 9 o'clock as a subtle reference to Wimbledon's court layout, Rolex has never officially confirmed this.
Also Read: Watches and Wonders 2026: Rolex celebrates 100 years of Oyster
The other Rolex models frequently associated with Wimbledon include the Cosmograph Daytona, worn by several champions including Federer and Sinner following major victories, as well as the Sky-Dweller, GMT-Master II, and Oyster Perpetual, which regularly appear on the wrists of Rolex ambassadors during the Championships.
As the sun sets on another British summer and the pristine lawns of Centre Court are rested for another year, the green and gold clocks remain a constant. Nearly half a century after it began, the Rolex-Wimbledon partnership is one of sport’s most successful long-term collaborations, and, having evolved beyond sponsorship, Rolex has become an inseparable part of Wimbledon’s visual identity – standing together as custodians of a rare, quiet constancy.
