Summer 2026 has been huge for sport. And while most of the world has watched wheels turn and balls fly, our eye has been on the players’ – and the spectators’ – wrists.
Watchmaking has always had a close connection with sport: Rolex and tennis, Omega and the Olympics, IWC Schaffhausen and the Mercedes F1.
We’ve always been interested in sports stars and their watches, but with a summer this stacked, we thought it was time for a fresh round-up. What standout watches were worn by athletes and stars in 2026?
Watches spotted at the World Cup
England didn’t make it as far as we’d hoped, and we had to endure a half-time show memorably labelled as “crap” by Wayne Rooney, but at least we weren’t disappointed by the watches on show at the FIFA World Cup 2026.
Many of our favourites were spotted in the stands this year –proof that there was more action off the pitch than on it.
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Jay-Z – Rolex Cosmograph Daytona 6264 “John Player Special”
Shop Cosmograph DaytonaJay-Z’s stunning watch collection needs no introduction. This one was an extremely rare vintage Daytona from 1969. Fewer than 100 examples are believed to have been made in yellow gold, and this is one of only a handful with the “John Player Special” dial, which is black with yellow gold subdials.
One of these sold for $1.54 million (around £1.2 million) at Sotheby’s in 2020, which proved to be a record high for a watch sold in an online auction until then.
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Carlos Alcaraz – Rolex Cosmograph Daytona Rainbow
Sporting worlds collided when tennis star Carlos Alcaraz carried the World Cup trophy onto the pitch for Spain. Alongside a Louis Vuitton carry case, he wore an 18-carat yellow gold Daytona Rainbow, its bezel set with 36 multicoloured sapphires.
It’s a limited-edition reference that’s also been worn by Kevin Hart, Mark Wahlberg and Harry Kane.
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Callum Turner – Cartier Tank Louis
First released in 1922, Turner’s yellow gold Tank – which was likely one of the larger sizes – was a world away from the gold, glitzy watches worn elsewhere at the tournament. The Spain v Argentina final wasn’t the first time Turner has been spotted in a classic Tank; it’s proven to be a go-to for the actor.
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Lionel Messi – Rolex Day-Date 36
Shop Day-Date 36Messi has a watch collection to be envious of, from his Patek Philippe Cubitus to his AP Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar “150th Anniversary” Openworked and Rolex Cosmograph Daytona with a rare pink dial. This off-catalogue reference is an 18-carat white gold Day-Date with a turquoise stone dial and baguette-cut blue sapphire hour markers. The shade caught our attention at the World Cup – it still feels fresh, and reminds us of the Tudor Black Bay Chrono in Flamingo Blue.
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Harry Kane – Patek Philippe Nautilus
Shop NautilusEngland’s standout player of the tournament wore one of Patek’s 50th Anniversary Nautilus pieces: a highly collectable timepiece with a 41mm white gold case, a blue dial, and Patek’s ultra-thin self-winding Calibre 240. This piece strips back all distractions for a clean aesthetic, making it one of the most sought-after modern Nautilus references.
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Bukayo Saka - Rolex GMT-Master II
Shop PepsiSaka has a well-documented watch collection, but the one that had us talking during the 2026 World Cup was this 18-carat white gold GMT-Master II with the red and blue ‘Pepsi’ Cerachrom bezel and a meteorite dial. The base reference launched in 2018 and was updated with the meteorite dial variant the following year. A serious collector’s pick.
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Jude Bellingham – Rolex Day-Date / Patek Philippe Aquanaut
We couldn’t choose just one here. Bellingham has a focused, well-curated watch collection, and has stayed loyal to his Rolex Day-Date Ref. 228239 in 18-carat white gold (with matching white gold President bracelet) and his Patek Philippe Aquanaut 5167A in satin-finished stainless steel with an interchangeable black rubber strap. A pairing he’s favoured since at least the Euros in 2024.
Watches spotted at Wimbledon
As always, Wimbledon set the scene for epic matches, underwhelming strawberries and cream, and incredible style. We can’t tell what we’re more impressed by: the strength and agility on the court, or the courage to wear luxury watches mid-match.
Here are some watch highlights from the court and the stands.
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Priyanka Chopra – Rolex Datejust 36
Attending as a global Rolex ambassador, Chopra wore a classic Datejust 36 with a green dial, Oystersteel and yellow gold bracelet, and Rolex’s signature fluted bezel. The actress and producer is a poster child for quiet luxury, and she didn’t let us down at the 2026 tennis tournament.
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Serena Williams – Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph
Worn courtside by the long-time AP ambassador, this year’s pick was a bright pink 37mm reference, which perfectly matched her racquet grip. Williams’ Royal Oak Chronograph featured a titanium case and stainless steel bezel set with 32 brilliant-cut diamonds, with AP’s Calibre 6401 inside.
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David Beckham – Tudor Black Bay 58
Shop Tudor watchesRarely far from a list like this one, Beckham wore his 39mm Black Bay 58 – usually a diver’s watch – on a polished five-link bracelet that made it Wimbledon-worthy. Powered by Tudor’s in-house MT5400-U Calibre, this timepiece is sporty and understated, but sharp enough to complement a tailored suit.
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Roger Federer – Rolex Datejust II
Federer was seen wearing a 41mm Datejust II with a silver dial, Arabic numerals and a fluted bezel, which combine to give it a contemporary aesthetic appeal. The reference (116334) was produced between 2009 and 2016 – and was the one Federer wore back in 2009, when he won the tournament.
Watches spotted at the Tour de France
Cycling’s biggest race has long-standing ties to Tudor, but Richard Mille has built some of the deepest partnerships with individual riders in the sport.
Both brands have captured the right kind of attention at the 2026 Tour de France.
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Tadej Pogačar – Richard Mille 64-01 “Tourbillon Colnago”
The most expensive watch spotted at this year’s tour was worn by Richard Mille’s very own brand ambassador. A manual-winding tourbillon in ultra-skeletonised grade 5 titanium, this is the result of a collaboration with Italian bike brand, Colnago. The watch takes its visual cues – lightness, transparency and volume – from the bike manufacturer’s minimalist bike frames. Limited to 50 pieces.
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Mathieu van der Poel – Richard Mille 67-02
Van der Poel is another RM ambassador who wore one of the brand’s most cyclist-friendly references: the 67-02 might be luxurious, but it’s slim, shock-resistant and lightweight. Built from TPT® composite materials, grade 5 titanium and an elastic wristband, it weighs just 32 grams, making it Richard Mille’s lightest automatic watch. This is effectively the 67-01, made sporty.
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Quinn Simmons – Tudor Black Bay Chrono “Panda”
A monochrome Panda dial and leather strap give this Black Bay Chrono just the right amount of retro. It houses one of the more sophisticated movements you’ll find in its price bracket, making this a genuinely accessible entry point into serious sports chronographs.
Watches spotted at The Open Championship
There are definite gaps in reports about watches at the 2026 Open, but golfers and their collections deserve a spot on any list about timepieces in sport.
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Scottie Scheffler – Rolex Submariner “Hulk”
Shop Submariner HulkScheffler’s Rolex collection is talked about almost as much as his golf. He’s known for reaching for classic sports models, like his “Starbucks” GMT, Datejust 41, “Root Beer” GMT-Master II, and this green Submariner “Hulk” (Ref. 116610LV). The multi-award-winning golfer clearly has a thing for green-accented watches. This particular piece is complete with Rolex’s “Maxi Dial” of larger hour markers and Chromalight lume for visibility. He wore it in 2025, when he came out on top at the Open.
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Gary Woodland – Breitling Chronomat B01 42
Shop Breitling ChronomatAlthough health struggles kept him away from the Open Championship in 2026, Woodland was spotted at the Masters wearing the steel-cased Chronomat B01 42. Woodland has been a Breitling ambassador since 2019, so we’re always keen to see the timepieces he goes for.
Launched in 1984, this Chronomat deliberately went against the grain of slim dress watches at the time, bringing a robust, mechanical sports piece to the market. It has been refined over the decades, but maintains its outstanding retro edge.
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Rory McIlroy – Omega De Ville Central Tourbillon Co-Axial Master Chronometer
Worn while lifting this year’s Masters trophy, McIlroy has owned his Omega De Ville since 2019, when he reportedly bought it to “treat himself” after winning the FedEx Cup. It’s a beautiful limited-production piece with a 43mm case in Omega’s proprietary Sedna and Canopus gold.
Raise your watch game with Trilogy Jewellers
You don’t have to represent your country or win a trophy to proudly own a stunning timepiece. From a vintage Daytona to a modern Nautilus, our team can help you find a watch worth talking about.
Book an appointment at our Mayfair showroom to view our current collection, or ask about our sourcing service.
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