Watch Paparazzi

Actor Mark Wahlberg spotted wearing Rolex

Mark Wahlberg turned up to a Wahlburgers restaurant opening wearing what is arguably the most coveted production Rolex in active circulation: the Cosmograph Daytona Rainbow in 18k white gold, reference 116599RBOW. The setting — a casual outdoor brand event — only sharpened the contrast between the hoodie-and-cap aesthetic and a watch that retails well north of $100,000 at authorised dealers.

The 116599RBOW houses Rolex's calibre 4130, a fully in-house chronograph movement introduced in 2000 and considered one of the most reliable and serviceable column-wheel chronograph ebauches in modern watchmaking. The 40mm white gold case pairs with the signature Oyster bracelet featuring the Oysterlock clasp. The black dial carries diamond-set hour indices and tritium-free Chromalight luminescent hands. The sub-dials are rendered in mother-of-pearl, adding further texture to an already complex dial architecture.

What makes the 116599RBOW a collector landmark is the bezel: 36 baguette-cut sapphires, rubies, emeralds, and other precious stones arranged in a chromatic gradient from red through orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet — exactly as seen in the image. Each stone is individually sourced and matched for color saturation before setting. Rolex introduced the Rainbow Daytona in 2012, and every subsequent generation has commanded immediate premiums over retail. The white gold variant is rarer and more desirable than the yellow or Everose gold versions.

Wahlberg is a serious horological collector whose wrist has also hosted the Rolex Daytona in stainless steel, Audemars Piguet Royal Oak references, and various Patek Philippe pieces. His pairing of the Rainbow Daytona with streetwear signals a collector who buys for pleasure rather than performance, which is precisely the demographic Rolex targets with gemstone complications.

On the secondary market, the 116599RBOW in white gold consistently trades between $150,000 and $200,000 USD, representing a multiplier of three to four times the official retail price. Supply from authorised dealers is essentially zero without established purchasing history. For anyone watching Wahlberg's wrist at this Coral Gables event, this was not a prop — it was a considered choice from a collector's box.