Watch Paparazzi

Rapper Dave spotted wearing Rolex

Santan Dave, the South London rapper and songwriter behind critically acclaimed albums 'Psychodrama' and 'We're All Alone in This Together,' was recently photographed wearing a stainless steel Rolex Daytona reference 116500LN fitted with a white dial and the brand's signature black Cerachrom ceramic bezel — one of the most sought-after sport watches on the planet.

Introduced at Baselworld 2016, the Rolex Daytona 116500LN represented the most significant update to the Daytona line in over a decade. The reference houses Rolex's in-house Calibre 4130, a column-wheel chronograph movement with a vertical clutch and a 72-hour power reserve — a marked technical leap over the Zenith El Primero-based ebauche used in the preceding 116520. The ceramic bezel, manufactured from zirconium oxide, is virtually scratch-proof and colour-stable, offering durability that the earlier aluminium bezels could not match. The case measures 40mm in diameter and is water-resistant to 100 metres, finished in Rolex's Oystersteel.

The white dial variant of the 116500LN occupies a particularly interesting position among collectors. Where the black-dial version offers a more tool-watch aesthetic, the white dial — with its three contrasting subdials — reads more classically and has historically attracted a slightly stronger grey-market premium. Both versions have been subject to significant waiting lists at authorised dealers since launch, making retail acquisition genuinely difficult without an established client relationship.

Dave's horological choice aligns well with his profile as one of British rap's most articulate and decorated voices. Since winning the Mercury Prize in 2019 and the BRIT Award for Album of the Year in 2022, his public image has grown considerably, and his taste in watches reflects an understated confidence — the Daytona is aspirational without being ostentatious.

At retail, the Rolex Daytona 116500LN carries a list price of approximately £10,500 ($14,870 USD), a figure that bears little relation to what buyers actually pay. On the grey market, the white-dial example commands roughly £27,000 ($38,000 USD) — a premium of nearly 160% over retail — underscoring just how acute demand remains for this reference years after its debut.