Watch Paparazzi

Singer Davido spotted wearing Rolex

Davido, the Lagos-born Afrobeats artist whose influence stretches from West Africa to the global charts, was recently photographed in what appears to be a watch boutique setting, his wrist adorned with one of the most sought-after — and hardest to acquire — Rolex references in circulation: the Cosmograph Daytona 'Rainbow' in 18ct Everose gold.

The Rolex Cosmograph Daytona 116595RBOW is built around the in-house Calibre 4130, a column-wheel chronograph movement with a vertical clutch, offering 72 hours of power reserve and COSC-certified precision. The 40mm Everose gold case houses a black dial with rose gold chronograph subdials, but it is the bezel that defines the piece: 36 baguette-cut multicoloured gemstones — sapphires, rubies, tsavorite garnets and amethysts among them — are pavé-set in a full-spectrum rainbow configuration. An additional row of round-cut diamonds flanks the coloured stones, elevating the gem count significantly. The Oyster bracelet, also in Everose gold, is set with further diamond-cut detailing on select links of certain configurations.

First introduced at Baselworld 2012, the Rainbow Daytona rapidly became a grail piece for collectors and celebrities alike. Rolex has never disclosed production numbers, but authorised dealer allocations are vanishingly rare. The combination of a legitimate in-house movement, precious metal construction, and an extraordinary hand-setting gemstone process — each stone selected for colour graduation — places the 116595RBOW in a category few Rolex references can claim.

Davido's horological sensibility has always leaned toward statement pieces that carry genuine substance beyond their surface impact. The Rainbow Daytona satisfies both criteria: it is unmistakably visible from across a room, yet backed by one of the most respected chronograph movements in Swiss watchmaking.

On the grey market, the 116595RBOW routinely trades between $350,000 and $500,000 USD depending on condition, provenance, and whether box and papers are present. The official Rolex retail price is listed in the caption at $500,000, reflecting the extraordinary labour and material cost involved. For collectors, acquisition through authorised channels is effectively impossible without a significant purchase history — making Davido's ownership of this reference a statement about access as much as taste.