Rapper Stormzy spotted wearing a Rolex

Stormzy, the South London rapper widely credited with bringing grime music to a global mainstream audience, was recently photographed wearing a stainless steel Rolex Daytona reference 116500LN fitted with the white dial — a combination that watch collectors widely regard as the holy grail configuration of the modern Daytona lineage.

Introduced in 2016, the Rolex Daytona ref. 116500LN marked a pivotal moment for the model: the arrival of a black Cerachrom ceramic bezel, replacing the aluminium bezel used since the ref. 116520. The white lacquer dial version contrasts sharply against that matte black ceramic surround, giving the watch a clean, high-contrast aesthetic that photographs exceptionally well. Beneath the caseback sits the Calibre 4130, Rolex's proprietary automatic chronograph movement featuring a column wheel, vertical clutch, and a 72-hour power reserve — a movement that effectively redefined what an in-house chronograph could deliver at this price tier. The case measures 40mm in Oyster stainless steel, with screw-down pushers and crown maintaining 100-metre water resistance.

From a collector standpoint, the 116500LN white dial is persistently one of the most discussed references in modern watchmaking. Authorized dealer waiting lists stretching years, combined with a secondary market that routinely prices the piece at three to four times official retail, have made it a genuine cultural object as much as a timekeeping instrument. The white dial variant consistently commands a premium over its black dial counterpart, driven by relative scarcity and its sharp visual identity.

Stormzy's watch choices have always reflected a considered approach. The Grammy-nominated artist — known for headlining Glastonbury in 2019 as its first Black British solo headliner — has previously been photographed with high-end references, and the Daytona 116500LN fits naturally within that profile. It is a watch that communicates substance over flash, a piece serious collectors pursue rather than simply purchase.

On the current grey market, stainless steel Rolex Daytona 116500LN white dial examples trade consistently between $28,000 and $35,000 USD, depending on condition, box and papers. The UK list price sits at £9,550 — a figure that underscores just how dramatically demand has outpaced Rolex's official pricing structure for this reference.