Designer Mariam AlYassi spotted wearing a Rolex

Emirati designer Mariam AlYassi made her latest Instagram appearance count, appearing on her @mim_design account with a Rolex Daytona 116508 in 18k yellow gold and green dial locked firmly on her wrist. It is the kind of watch that draws the eye before anything else in the frame.

Rolex introduced the Daytona 116508 green dial at Baselworld 2016 as part of a broader refresh of the yellow gold Daytona family. It was a landmark moment: the first Daytona in the brand's history to feature a green dial, and Rolex underlined the choice with a matching green Cerachrom ceramic bezel insert — a material that resists scratching and UV fading far better than the aluminum bezels of earlier generations. The 40mm yellow gold case houses the calibre 4130, Rolex's in-house column-wheel chronograph movement featuring a vertical clutch, a 72-hour power reserve, and a COSC-certified chronometer rating. The movement is widely regarded as one of the most reliable and technically refined chronograph calibres in production.

The 116508 green dial holds a particular place in collector conversations. Green dials across the Rolex catalog — from the Submariner to the Day-Date — have consistently commanded premiums on the secondary market, and the Daytona 116508 is no exception. Its combination of precious metal, a unique dial color, and the Daytona name ensures it remains one of the most sought-after references in the entire sports-luxury segment. The grey market premium over retail has held firm since launch, reflecting sustained demand with limited authorized dealer availability.

Mariam AlYassi is one of the UAE's most recognized designers, known for work that bridges traditional Gulf aesthetics with contemporary architecture and interior design. Her choice of the Rolex Daytona 116508 aligns with a collector sensibility rather than pure status signaling — this is a watch chosen for its history and rarity, not just its gold case.

At an official retail price of $37,400, the Daytona 116508 in yellow gold with green dial is already positioned firmly in the luxury tier. On the grey market, however, it routinely trades at more than double that figure, reflecting a demand-supply imbalance that Rolex has shown no urgency to correct.