Featured image: Qubeek, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Ellen DeGeneres is a serious Rolex collector, and the watch she has been most closely linked with in recent years is the Rolex GMT-Master II “Pepsi” with its red and blue bezel. Her collection reaches well beyond that, though, to vintage Daytonas, a Rolex Explorer II, an Omega Speedmaster and several Patek Philippe pieces.
Quick answerRolex GMT-Master II “Pepsi” (the 2018 release is ref. 126710BLRO), plus a deep collection of vintage Rolex Daytonas and Explorers and complicated Pateks. Rolex discontinued the Pepsi in April 2026, so the original retail price of roughly $11,800 is now far below what it trades for pre-owned (commonly well over $20,000).
Where to buy
Compare the same watch on both sites: eBay for pre-owned and vintage pieces, Amazon for new stock.
Rolex GMT-Master II 126710BLRO
Vintage Rolex Daytona
Prices and availability change; check the listing before you buy.
The Rolex GMT-Master II “Pepsi”
Watch site Fratello spotted DeGeneres wearing the then-new Pepsi GMT in late 2018, describing her as an avid Rolex wearer and collector. Crown & Caliber’s profile of her lists the GMT-Master II “Pepsi” as the most recent watch she had been seen wearing at the time of its writing.
| Spec | Rolex GMT-Master II “Pepsi” (ref. 126710BLRO) |
|---|---|
| Case size | 40 mm |
| Case material | Oystersteel |
| Bezel | Cerachrom, red and blue, bidirectional 24-hour |
| Movement | Rolex Caliber 3285, automatic |
| Water resistance | 100 m (330 ft) |
| Movement power reserve | About 70 hours |
| Approximate price | Original retail around $11,800; pre-owned typically $22,000 or more in 2026 |
These specs are Rolex’s published figures for the modern Pepsi, which is the model Fratello reported. Neither source we checked states the exact reference she wears, so treat the reference number as the most likely match, not a confirmed fact.
The Pepsi is now discontinued
Rolex removed the red-and-blue GMT-Master II from its catalog during Watches and Wonders 2026, with the product page disappearing on April 14, 2026, according to Complex. No direct replacement was announced, and pre-owned prices jumped as buyers rushed in. If you want what Ellen wore, you are now shopping the secondary market, where a lightly worn watch alone has been quoted in the low-to-mid $20,000s and unworn sets considerably higher. Dealer pricing moves quickly, so check live listings.
Her Daytona with Jerry Seinfeld
The most famous sighting of her Rolex collection came on Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee, where she wore what Time and Tide’s guide to the show identifies as a “Paul Newman” Daytona. That nickname refers to the Daytona dial layout with contrasting “exotic” sub-dial markings and art-deco numerals, made famous by the actor. We cover that episode and the other comedians’ watches in our Jerry Seinfeld watch article. We could not confirm the exact reference from the sources we checked, so we do not state one. Her vintage ref. 6241 “John Player Special” Daytona, reported by Monochrome, is a separate watch.
Ellen DeGeneres’s wider watch collection
Over the years she has been photographed with an unusually broad mix, and Rolex dominates it.
- Rolex Daytona: reported as her favorite family of watches, including a vintage ref. 6241 “John Player Special” and a Paul Newman-style Daytona.
- Rolex Explorer II ref. 1655: the original 1971 “Steve McQueen” Explorer II, per Monochrome.
- Rolex Day-Date: Crown & Caliber lists the Day-Date and the “President” bracelet among her Rolex classics, alongside Submariner and Yacht-Master models, without giving references.
- Omega Speedmaster Professional: worn on a red and blue NATO strap.
- Omega Seamaster 300 “Spectre” Edition: reportedly a gift from Daniel Craig when he appeared on her show.
- Patek Philippe: a platinum perpetual calendar chronograph ref. 5271P, a rose gold split-seconds perpetual calendar ref. 5204/1R, a Nautilus, and a more recent sighting of an Aquanaut Travel Time.
- Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Dual Time: steel with a blue tapisserie dial.
Sightings come from her show appearances and press photos. DeGeneres’ talk show ended in 2022, and we could not find reliable, dated reports of a newer signature watch. That means the picture above is the best-documented one, not an up-to-the-minute inventory.
Why she wears them
DeGeneres has never been shy about collecting. Her taste leans vintage sport Rolex, which is why the Explorer II and Daytonas keep coming up. It is an enthusiast’s collection rather than a status display, with models chosen for history and design.
Get the look for less
A Pepsi bezel is the signature of the GMT-Master, and there are real alternatives at much lower prices.
- Seiko 5 Sports GMT (SSK series): Best for a first GMT with a red and blue option at a modest price. Pros: true GMT function, automatic. Cons: Seiko’s bracelet and finishing are simpler. The line launched at around $475 and some versions have color-split bezels, so check the exact reference you want.
- Tudor Black Bay GMT (41 mm): Best for a Pepsi-bezel steel sports watch with serious build quality, and now the closest thing to a current Rolex-family Pepsi. Pros: in-house movement, Rolex-grade engineering. Cons: it is still roughly $4,900 to $5,300 new, according to a 2026 price guide.
You can browse more at our homage watches guide, and the Omega Seamaster homage roundup covers lookalikes for the Seamaster she received from Daniel Craig.
More celebrity watch collectors
Another entertainer with a surprisingly serious watch history is Jerry Seinfeld, who pairs Breitling chronographs with a famously historic Rolex Daytona.
FAQ
What Rolex does Ellen DeGeneres wear?
She has been seen in a GMT-Master II “Pepsi,” vintage and modern Daytonas, an Explorer II ref. 1655, and other Rolex models.
Does Ellen DeGeneres collect watches?
Yes. Watch media describe her as an avid collector with Rolex, Patek Philippe, Omega and Audemars Piguet pieces.
Can you still buy the Rolex Pepsi Ellen wore?
Not new. Rolex discontinued the GMT-Master II Pepsi in April 2026, so it is now a secondary-market purchase at prices well above its original retail.
What is the Rolex Pepsi?
It is the nickname for the GMT-Master II with a red and blue bezel, recognizable by its two-time-zone function and 24-hour bezel.
Did Daniel Craig give Ellen a watch?
Monochrome reports she received an Omega Seamaster 300 “Spectre” Edition from Daniel Craig after he appeared on her show.
Sources
- Fratello: Watch spotting, Ellen DeGeneres wearing the new Rolex GMT Pepsi
- Crown & Caliber: Profiles in Time, Ellen DeGeneres
- Complex: Rolex discontinues the Pepsi GMT-Master II
- Time and Tide: 14 of the best watches spotted in Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee
- Watch Scanning: Tudor price list 2026
- Monochrome: The coolest watches in Ellen DeGeneres’s collection