Alcaraz’s wristwatch drew as much attention as the football itself during Sunday’s World Cup final between Spain and Argentina in what proved to be a memorable occasion.
Spanish tennis world number one Carlos Alcaraz was spotted in the stands wearing his 2012 Rolex Cosmograph Daytona Rainbow, one of the rarest timepieces the Swiss watchmaker has ever produced.
The tournament ended in Spanish victory, and Alcaraz wasted little time making his way onto the pitch to embrace 19-year-old Spanish forward Lamine Yamal following the final whistle.
Photographers captured the moment clearly, with Alcaraz’s striking red and blue timepiece impossible to miss against the backdrop of the post-match celebrations on the pitch.
The watch on his wrist is an off-catalogue piece featuring a solid gold strap and 36 multicoloured sapphires set around the bezel, creating the distinctive visual effect that gives the watch its Rainbow name.
Part of what makes the piece so extraordinary is how “extremely difficult” it is to source sapphires that precisely match one another for the bezel setting, resulting in extremely low production runs.
The last iteration of the Rolex Daytona Rainbow was released in 2018 and was made available in yellow, white, and everose gold, further cementing its status as a collector’s prize.
Because of its rarity and desirability, the Daytona Rainbow commands a fierce auction market, with individual pieces frequently selling for hundreds of thousands of pounds or more.
Other high-profile figures who have been photographed wearing the Daytona Rainbow include Kevin Hart, Mark Wahlberg, and England football captain Harry Kane, underlining its cross-industry appeal.
The watch represents something of a departure for Rolex, a heritage Swiss brand historically celebrated for its restrained and understated approach to luxury design.
Alcaraz has served as a Rolex ambassador since 2022, when he was just 18 years old, making the timepiece a natural fit for one of sport’s most recognisable young faces.
Meanwhile, on the pitch itself, Argentine midfielder Leandro Paredes’ altercation with Spanish defender Eric Garcia served as a reminder of exactly why expensive watches are kept well away from the action.