Watch Paparazzi

Rapper Kanye West spotted wearing Rolex

New York Fashion Week is a stage engineered for visual statements, and Kanye West — never one to dress quietly — arrived with the Rolex Submariner Date 116618LB secured to his wrist. The all-yellow-gold diver registered immediately against the monochromatic aesthetic West typically favors, signaling exactly the kind of controlled contradiction that defines his personal style.

The Submariner Date 116618LB is built entirely in 18K yellow gold — case, bracelet, and crown — and pairs that metal with a blue sunburst dial and a blue Cerachrom ceramic bezel insert graduated in 60-minute dive increments. The Cerachrom material resists scratching and UV fading, a practical detail that feels almost ironic given how few owners of this reference will ever strap a tank to their backs. Water resistance sits at 300 meters. The movement is Rolex's Calibre 3135, a 31-jewel automatic with a 48-hour power reserve, bi-directional rotor, and Rolex's own Parachrom hairspring, which offers ten times greater shock resistance than conventional alloys. Case diameter is 40mm — the classic Submariner footprint that Rolex maintained across this generation before the 2020 update to 41mm with the 126618LB.

The 116618LB entered production in the mid-2000s and remained in the Rolex catalogue until its replacement by the 126618LB. Its collector reputation is straightforward and strong: the yellow gold Submariner is one of those references that never needed hype to sell. It occupies a permanent position on serious collectors' want lists precisely because it combines the Submariner's utilitarian DNA with an unambiguous luxury material. The blue-on-gold color pairing has historical precedent within Rolex, echoing the brand's longstanding use of blue dials in precious metal sports references.

Kanye West has demonstrated consistent interest in high-specification Swiss watches over the years, often favoring pieces that carry institutional weight rather than novelty. The 116618LB fits that profile cleanly — it requires no explanation to anyone who knows watches, and it carries enough visual authority to communicate to those who don't.

On the grey market, the 116618LB continues to trade above its original retail price despite being a discontinued reference, reflecting the sustained demand for yellow gold Rolex sports models. The UK list price at time of spotting was £28,650, placing it firmly in serious collector territory.