Basketball player Jimmy Butler spotted wearing a Rolex

Following Game Five of the Philadelphia 76ers' clash with the Toronto Raptors, Jimmy Butler was photographed wearing a Rolex Yacht-Master 40mm in an exceptionally rare gem-set configuration — reference 116695SATS — a watch that retails at $130,000 and commands immediate attention from any serious collector in the room.

The Rolex Yacht-Master ref. 116695SATS is built on an 18k white gold Oyster case measuring 40mm, paired with a matching white gold Oyster bracelet. The dial is factory pavé-set with diamonds across its entire surface, a statement in itself, but the true distinction of this reference lies in its bezel. Rolex's gem-setting atelier has set the rotating bezel with 32 blue sapphires and 8 tsavorite garnets — the vivid green stones sourced from East Africa — anchored by a single diamond at the 12 o'clock position. The combination of deep blue, rich green, and white creates a chromatic palette that is unmistakably intentional, executed with the precision Rolex's in-house gem specialists apply to every stone for colour, clarity, and cut consistency.

Powering the watch is Rolex's Calibre 2135, a self-winding movement with a 48-hour power reserve, housed within an Oysterlock-secured case rated waterproof to 100 metres. While the Yacht-Master line was introduced in 1992 as Rolex's sportier, more nautically oriented sibling to the Datejust, gem-set variants like the 116695SATS represent the furthest point from everyday utility — these are horological luxury objects aimed squarely at collectors who want Rolex craftsmanship expressed through the jeweller's art.

Jimmy Butler has built a reputation as one of the NBA's most discerning watch enthusiasts, with sightings ranging from vintage Patek Philippe to heavy-hitting modern Rolex references. The choice of the 116695SATS speaks to a collector comfortable operating at the intersection of sport watchmaking and high jewellery — not a space many buyers navigate confidently.

On the grey market, the 116695SATS trades close to its $130,000 retail figure, reflecting both its platinum-tier gem-set status and the relative difficulty of sourcing factory gem-set Rolex references through authorised dealers. For a watch worn postgame by one of the league's most watched players, visibility like this rarely hurts.