Derek Kaplan Watch Collection - Every Watch He's Been Spotted Wearing
Derek Kaplan currently has 1 watches in his collection. Check them in our database.
Introduction to Derek Kaplan
Derek Kaplan is a Miami-based contemporary artist whose work spans large-scale paintings, prints, and mixed-media pieces that draw heavily on themes of nature, energy, and the human experience. Born in South Africa and now firmly rooted in the Miami art scene, Kaplan has built a following through gallery exhibitions across the United States and Europe, as well as through collaborations with collectors and institutions that place him firmly in the upper tier of working contemporary painters. His vivid, layered canvases have attracted significant attention both in the fine art market and among celebrity collectors.
The Derek Kaplan watch collection, as documented in our sightings database, currently centers on Rolex — specifically the Yacht-Master 40 in 18k Everose gold, reference 116655. Photographed wearing this piece on at least one confirmed occasion, Kaplan's choice is telling. The ref. 116655, introduced in 2015, was a milestone for the Yacht-Master line as the first iteration to feature Rolex's Oysterflex bracelet — a high-performance elastomer strap mounted over a titanium and nickel alloy blade. It offers the wearability of a rubber strap with the structural integrity expected of a precious metal sports watch. The 40mm Everose gold case pairs with a matching rotatable bezel, making it a substantial piece on the wrist.
For an artist whose work is defined by bold color relationships and deliberate material choices, a watch in Rolex's proprietary Everose gold alloy — formulated with platinum to resist fading — feels consistent with someone attuned to how materials behave over time. The Yacht-Master 116655 retails at a significant premium and occupies a specific niche: it is not a dive watch, not a dress watch, but a precision instrument designed for an active lifestyle with no concessions on craft. That positioning appears to suit Kaplan's profile well.
Derek Kaplan Spotted Wearing Rolex Yacht-Master 40 Reference 116655
Inserted 30/11/2022
The Rolex Yacht-Master 116655 is the only version of the 40mm Yacht-Master built entirely in 18k Everose gold — Rolex's proprietary rose gold alloy engineered to resist fading — paired with the brand's rubber Oysterflex bracelet, a combination that makes it one of the more technically distinctive references in the current Rolex catalogue. Artist Derek Kaplan, known for his vivid, large-scale figurative canvases, was recently spotted wearing this warm-toned sports-luxury piece, a fitting complement to a creative personality comfortable with bold aesthetic statements.
