Watch Paparazzi

Rapper Drake spotted wearing Rolex

Drake was recently spotted wearing a Rolex Cosmograph Daytona ref. 116506 in platinum, a piece reportedly gifted to him by @chubbsview — a detail that underscores both the watch's significant monetary value and the culture of high-horological gifting that circulates within hip-hop's upper tier.

The ref. 116506 is among the most technically and materially exclusive references in Rolex's modern catalog. Introduced at Baselworld 2013, it was the first Daytona ever produced in 950 platinum — a material Rolex reserves strictly for its top-tier 'Masterpiece' pieces. Beating at its core is the calibre 4130, Rolex's in-house chronograph movement featuring a column wheel, vertical clutch, and a 72-hour power reserve. The movement is COSC-certified and was a landmark development when it debuted in 2000, replacing the Zenith El Primero base that had powered the Daytona for over a decade.

What makes this specific example particularly striking is its dial configuration. The ice blue sunray dial is a hue that Rolex uses exclusively on platinum-cased watches, serving as an immediate visual identifier of the metal beneath. Eight of the twelve hour positions carry baguette-cut diamonds rather than applied indices, while the contrasting brown Cerachrom bezel — Rolex's proprietary scratch-resistant ceramic — adds a richness that offsets the cool tones of the dial. The tachymeter scale is engraved directly into the ceramic and filled with platinum lacquer, a detail that resists fading indefinitely.

Among collectors, the ref. 116506 occupies a very specific position: it is a factory Rolex that reads as exotic without crossing into fully bespoke territory. Its platinum construction, combined with the diamond markers and ice blue dial, makes it a grail piece even for those who already own gold-cased Daytonas. Availability through authorized dealers has always been extremely limited, and demand consistently outpaces supply.

At list price the ref. 116506 is positioned around $70,000, but the grey market tells a considerably different story. Current secondary market valuations place this reference at approximately $128,000 — an 80-plus percent premium that reflects both its scarcity and enduring desirability. On Drake's wrist, the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona ref. 116506 reads not as excess but as considered taste.