Watch Paparazzi

Rapper Belly spotted wearing Rolex

Belly, the Palestinian-Canadian rapper signed to XO Records, was recently photographed wearing a full 18kt yellow gold Rolex Yacht-Master 40, reference 116688 — a watch that demands closer inspection beyond its obvious material opulence.

The Rolex Yacht-Master ref. 116688 measures 40mm in diameter and is constructed entirely in Rolex's proprietary 18kt yellow gold, including the Oyster case, the five-link Oyster bracelet, and the engraved bidirectional rotatable bezel. That bezel features raised, polished hour markers on a matte surround — a detail that distinguishes the Yacht-Master from the tool-watch austerity of the Submariner. The dial on the 116688 is champagne-toned with applied yellow gold hour markers and Mercedes hands, all coated in Chromalight luminescent material. Inside sits the Rolex Calibre 3135, a self-winding movement with a 48-hour power reserve, certified as a Superlative Chronometer to ±2 seconds per day accuracy. Water resistance is rated to 100 metres.

The Yacht-Master line launched in 1992 as Rolex's answer to the boating lifestyle segment — technically capable but unapologetically dressy. The all-gold 116688 sits at the apex of that philosophy. Rolex discontinued the reference when they transitioned the Yacht-Master 40 to the updated 126628GNR in 2019, featuring an Oysterflex bracelet option and the newer Calibre 3235. That discontinuation has quietly elevated the 116688's collector profile among those who prefer the traditional Oyster bracelet configuration in solid gold.

Belly has built a reputation for understated luxury, and the Yacht-Master 116688 fits that register precisely. It is not the loudest watch in the Rolex catalogue — that distinction belongs elsewhere — but full yellow gold on a sports-adjacent case carries its own authority. For a rapper whose musical output tends toward measured, atmospheric production rather than maximalism, the choice reads as consistent.

On the grey market, the Rolex Yacht-Master 116688 trades at a modest premium to its original retail positioning, typically exchanging hands in the $38,000–$44,000 USD range depending on condition and box-and-papers status. With the reference now discontinued, supply is finite, and demand from yellow gold collectors continues to support prices steadily.