Watch Paparazzi

Rapper Flo Rida spotted wearing Rolex

Flo Rida was recently photographed wearing a Rolex Yacht-Master II reference 116681, the two-tone Rolesor variant that pairs Oystersteel with 18kt Everose gold — Rolex's proprietary rose gold alloy engineered for enhanced corrosion resistance and lasting colour stability. At 44mm, the piece commands attention on the wrist without crossing into the territory of purely decorative oversizing.

The Yacht-Master II ref. 116681 is driven by the Rolex calibre 4161, a movement developed entirely in-house and introduced with the Yacht-Master II's debut in 2007. What makes it genuinely remarkable among sports watches is its mechanical programmable countdown regatta timer, allowing a skipper to synchronise a 1-to-10-minute countdown with a race committee's starting sequence and reset it on the fly via the crown-actuated Ring Command bezel. This is a legitimate functional complication — not a tachymeter nobody uses — and it represents one of the most complex movements Rolex has ever released for series production.

Among collectors, the Yacht-Master II occupies an interesting position. It has never achieved the frenzied grey-market premiums of the Daytona or the steel sports references, which has paradoxically earned it respect as a watch purchased for what it actually is rather than as a speculative asset. The Rolesor 116681 variant, with its Everose gold bezel and crown guards contrasted against the steel case, has a warmer, more distinctive visual identity than the all-steel 116680, making it a favourite for buyers who want presence alongside the mechanical pedigree.

Flo Rida — born Tramar Lacel Dillard — has built one of the most commercially successful careers in hip-hop, with tracks like "Right Round" and "Good Feeling" accumulating billions of streams. His watch choices have consistently leaned toward bold, recognisable luxury references, and the Yacht-Master II fits that brief precisely: it reads as serious horology to those who know it, and reads as unambiguous luxury to those who don't.

Retail pricing for the Rolex Yacht-Master II ref. 116681 sits at approximately $19,900 USD at authorised dealers, though availability through official channels remains limited. On the secondary market, examples trade in a relatively stable band close to retail, reflecting steady demand without the volatility that affects other Rolex sport references.