The first English winner in 25 years chose a white gold Daytona with a sapphire bezel, one of several serious watches on show at the Palladium.
Harry Kane won the 2026 Ballon d'Or at the London Palladium on 26 October, the first Englishman to win it since Michael Owen in 2001, LBC and ESPN reported. On his wrist was a gem-set Rolex Cosmograph Daytona, which the watch site Man of Many identified as an off-catalogue 40 mm white gold model with a bezel of 36 baguette-cut blue sapphires.
The night
The Ballon d'Or ceremony was held in London for the first time, at the London Palladium on Monday 26 October 2026. Kane, the Bayern Munich and England striker, scored 73 goals in 65 appearances for club and country over the award period, LBC reported, and finished ahead of Kylian Mbappé and Lamine Yamal. Alexia Putellas won the women's award for the third time.
Kane's Daytona
According to Man of Many, Kane wore a Rolex Cosmograph Daytona in 18KT white gold, 40 mm across, with a bezel set with 36 custom-cut baguette blue sapphires: an off-catalogue piece, meaning it is not part of Rolex's standard published range. The Sun described the watch as valued at almost £1 million. Kane is a long-standing Rolex wearer; he wore a rainbow sapphire Daytona at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
The other watches at the Palladium
Man of Many also picked out Lamine Yamal's Richard Mille RM 67-01 Automatic Extra Flat in red gold, Ousmane Dembélé's Richard Mille RM 055, and Kylian Mbappé's Hublot Classic Fusion in yellow gold. Gold cases and gem-set bezels set the tone of the evening, a reminder that for footballers, as for collectors, a watch is often the one piece of jewellery a man wears.
Why gem-set and off-catalogue Rolex stand apart
Rolex has made gem-set versions of the Daytona, the chronograph it introduced in 1963, for decades, from the rainbow models to bezels of single-colour sapphires, rubies or diamonds. They are made in small numbers, often in white, yellow or Everose gold, and the quality and matching of the stones is part of what a buyer is paying for. With any Rolex, what keeps value is originality (the right dial, hands, bezel and bracelet for the reference), condition, and paperwork: the original box, warranty card and service records all help. Our guides to vintage gold Rolex models and whether engraving affects a Rolex's value go further. If you own a Rolex and are thinking of selling, see how to sell your Rolex with us. Every watch is different: send us a few photos and we will tell you what yours is worth, free and with no obligation.
More from Mozeris News
Looking to buy or sell? Get in touch
We buy and sell antique and vintage jewellery, watches, silver and collectables, with free valuations and free insured collection.
About Mozeris Fine Antiques
Mozeris Fine Antiques is a dealer in fine jewellery, watches and silver, with offices in Mayfair, London, and Braintree, Essex. We buy and sell, and offer free valuations. Visits are by appointment.
- Man of Many: The best watches from the 2026 Ballon d'Or (27 Oct 2026)
- LBC: Harry Kane wins Ballon d'Or (26 Oct 2026)
- ESPN: Harry Kane wins 2026 Ballon d'Or (26 Oct 2026)
Facts as reported by Man of Many, LBC, ESPN and The Sun. Mozeris Fine Antiques is not connected with Rolex, Richard Mille, Hublot or anyone named. No photograph is used because no licensed image was available.
