Television presenter Ellen spotted wearing a Rolex

On the set of The Ellen Show, cameras caught television presenter Ellen DeGeneres wearing what is quietly one of the most technically and materially significant sports watches in the current Rolex catalogue — the Cosmograph Daytona ref. 116506 in 950 platinum. It is not a watch that announces itself loudly, which may be precisely the point.

Rolex introduced the ref. 116506 in 2013 at Baselworld, marking the first time the Daytona had ever been produced in platinum. The case and bracelet are crafted in 950 platinum — a purer, denser, and considerably rarer alloy than the 950 platinum used in some dress watches — and the reference follows Rolex's long-standing convention of reserving an ice-blue dial exclusively for its platinum pieces. The dial on the 116506 is set with a meteorite subdial, though non-meteorite versions also exist. The watch measures 40mm and is powered by the calibre 4130, Rolex's fully in-house column-wheel chronograph movement with a vertical clutch, offering a 72-hour power reserve and a frequency of 28,800 vph.

From a collector standpoint, the 116506 occupies rare air within the Daytona family. While steel Daytonas — particularly the ref. 116500LN — dominate conversation due to their near-mythical waitlists, the platinum reference is the more exclusive object. Production numbers are limited, and the combination of precious metal, in-house movement, and the Daytona nameplate creates a watch that appeals equally to serious horological collectors and those seeking a discreet statement of considered luxury.

Ellen DeGeneres has long maintained a relatively low-profile approach to personal style on camera, making the 116506 a characteristically understated yet weighty choice. For a presenter whose show ran for nearly two decades and whose audience spanned mainstream America, the platinum Daytona reads as a personal reward rather than a performance of wealth.

At UK retail of approximately £50,000, the ref. 116506 sits firmly in grand complication territory on price, despite its sports-watch architecture. On the secondary market, demand consistently pushes values above retail, with grey-market prices typically ranging from $75,000 to $95,000 depending on condition and dial variant — a premium that reflects both scarcity and the enduring strength of the Daytona nameplate.