Watch Paparazzi

Rapper Dave spotted wearing Rolex

Dave — full name David Orobosa Omoregie — was photographed wearing the Rolex GMT-Master II reference 126710BLNR, the stainless steel sports watch that generated some of the loudest noise of the Baselworld 2019 season. The sighting aligns neatly with a period in which Dave was ascending rapidly from South London breakthrough act to one of British rap's most decorated figures.

The 126710BLNR is the direct successor to the 116710BLNR, but the 2019 release introduced two meaningful changes that immediately captured collector attention. First, Rolex fitted the watch with the new Calibre 3285, an in-house movement offering a 70-hour power reserve, improved accuracy through the Chronergy escapement, and a more robust winding system — a substantial upgrade over the Calibre 3186 it replaced. Second, and perhaps more emotionally significant for long-term fans of the line, Rolex brought back the five-link Jubilee bracelet in Oystersteel, a configuration not seen on the GMT-Master II since the reference 16713 'Root Beer' era. The 40mm case retains the Cerachrom black-and-blue bicolour bezel insert, which gives the watch its 'Batman' moniker in collector shorthand.

From a collector standpoint, the 126710BLNR on Jubilee sits at one of the most coveted intersections in modern Rolex production. The combination of the ceramic bezel's durability, the Jubilee bracelet's dressy wearability, and a certified movement accuracy of -2/+2 seconds per day makes the piece genuinely hard to argue against at any level of watch collecting. It remains among the most waitlisted references at authorised dealers worldwide.

Dave's taste here is consistent with a generation of British artists who treat serious horology as a natural extension of creative success rather than simple status display. Having released 'Psychodrama' to near-universal critical acclaim in 2019, his profile was at a defining high point when this sighting occurred.

On the market, the 126710BLNR commands a significant premium over its official retail price. The UK list price at time of release stood at approximately £7,150, translating to roughly $9,000 USD at period exchange rates. On the grey market, however, demand has consistently pushed prices well above that figure, and the reference continues to trade at a meaningful premium to retail.