Film director Spike Lee spotted wearing a Rolex

Spike Lee has long been as recognizable for his courtside style as for his cinema, and a recent sighting confirms his wrist game remains firmly in the conversation. The director was spotted wearing a stainless steel Rolex Daytona ref. 116520 with a black dial — one of the most consequential sports chronographs of the modern era.

The reference 116520 entered production in 2000 and ran until approximately 2016, when it was succeeded by the ceramic-bezel ref. 116500LN. Its defining technical achievement was the introduction of the caliber 4130, Rolex's first fully in-house chronograph movement. Beating at 28,800 vph, the 4130 features a column wheel and vertical clutch — replacing the lateral clutch of the earlier ETA-sourced cal. 4030 — resulting in a smoother, more precise chronograph action with virtually no jump at start. The movement also offered a 72-hour power reserve, a significant upgrade on its predecessor. The case measures 40mm in Oystersteel, fitted on an Oyster bracelet with the Oysterlock clasp.

Among collectors, the 116520 occupies a specific and respected position. It lacks the ceramic bezel of the current 116500LN, but purists argue the aluminum bezel and the earlier production examples — particularly those with "inverted six" dials or patina from the first production runs — carry genuine character. Black-dial examples consistently command stronger secondary market interest than white-dial variants, and the reference as a whole has appreciated sharply since its discontinuation.

Spike Lee is a known watch enthusiast whose collection reportedly spans Patek Philippe and other major Swiss houses. His choice of the 116520 over flashier complications or precious metal alternatives signals a genuine appreciation for mechanical substance. The Daytona's motorsport heritage — originally developed for racing drivers in 1963 — suits a director who consistently references American cultural history in his work.

On the grey market, steel Daytona ref. 116520 examples with black dials trade well above their original retail price of roughly $12,400 at discontinuation. Current secondary market values typically range between $18,000 and $25,000 depending on condition, box-and-papers completeness, and dial variant, reflecting sustained collector demand for this transitional reference.