Watch Paparazzi

Musician Dave Navarro spotted wearing Rolex

Dave Navarro, guitarist of Jane's Addiction and a figure long associated with deliberate, high-impact style choices, was recently spotted wearing the Rolex Oyster Perpetual Sea-Dweller Deepsea in the James Cameron edition — reference 116660D — a watch that earns its keep through engineering as much as aesthetics.

The Rolex Deepsea 116660D is distinguished from the standard 116660 by its striking gradient deep blue dial, introduced in 2014 to mark James Cameron's landmark March 2012 solo descent to Challenger Deep, the deepest point in the Mariana Trench at approximately 10,908 metres. A Rolex Deepsea prototype accompanied Cameron's submersible on that dive, validating the watch's 3,900-metre water-resistance rating — a spec that dwarfs virtually every competitor in professional diving. The 44mm stainless steel Oyster case relies on Rolex's proprietary Ringlock System: a nitrogen-hardened steel ring, a helium escape valve, and a 5.5mm-thick sapphire crystal that collectively resist implosion under extreme pressure.

Powering the watch is the in-house Calibre 3135, a self-winding movement with a 48-hour power reserve, Rolex's Parachrom hairspring for anti-magnetic and shock resistance, and Superlative Chronometer certification to ±2 seconds per day. The three-link Oyster bracelet is fitted with Rolex's Glidelock extension system, allowing precise adjustment over a 20mm range for use over a diving suit.

For collectors, the 116660D occupies a specific and coveted niche. The James Cameron dial variant commands a measurable premium over the standard black-dial 116660, and its backstory — tied to a verifiable, record-breaking deep-sea achievement rather than pure marketing — gives it genuine provenance. It has remained consistently in demand on the secondary market since its introduction and is considered one of the more defensible sport Rolex references to hold long term.

Navarro has cultivated a reputation for Gothic-inflected, considered style over decades in the public eye. Pairing a tool watch of this technical pedigree — rather than a flashier tourbillon or gem-set piece — signals genuine horological awareness. The Rolex Sea-Dweller Deepsea 116660D retails in the UK at approximately £8,250 list price; grey-market values have tracked above retail, typically in the $14,000–$16,000 range depending on condition and papers.