Actor Lee Jung-jae spotted wearing a Rolex

Lee Jung-jae, best known internationally as Player 456 in Netflix's Squid Game — the most-watched series in the platform's history — was spotted wearing a Rolex Yacht-Master II reference 116688 in 18k yellow gold. The choice is telling: this is not the entry-level Yacht-Master, but the full-fat regatta complication model, and in the most opulent metal configuration available.

The Rolex Yacht-Master II ref. 116688 measures 44mm in 18k yellow gold and is powered by the in-house Caliber 4161, a movement that represents one of the most technically demanding developments in Rolex's modern history. The caliber features a mechanical memory — a programmable countdown function allowing skippers to synchronize with regatta starting sequences of between 1 and 10 minutes. A patented ring command bezel physically interacts with the movement to set the regatta timer, a mechanical solution to a problem that most competitors would solve electronically. The bidirectional ratchet system and Chronergy escapement round out a movement that is as serious as watchmaking gets at this price tier.

From a collector's standpoint, the Yacht-Master II occupies an interesting position. It is not as liquid or as universally coveted as the Daytona or the steel sports models, but among those who understand it, the 116688 commands genuine respect. The yellow gold version is the most visually assertive of the range, pairing the large 44mm case with the Rolex-manufactured Oysterflex bracelet — a vulcanized rubber strap with a titanium and nickel alloy spine — giving it a contemporary edge that prevents it from reading as purely classical.

Lee Jung-jae's profile changed fundamentally after Squid Game's 2021 release. He subsequently won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series, becoming the first Asian actor to do so. His watch choices have attracted increasing attention from the collector community as his international visibility has grown. Wearing the Yacht-Master II ref. 116688 signals a collector with both means and specific intent — this is not a default choice.

At retail, the Rolex Yacht-Master II 116688 in yellow gold lists at approximately $42,550 USD. On the secondary market, examples trade in a relatively stable range, reflecting modest but consistent demand from a niche audience that values mechanical complexity alongside the Rolex provenance.