Royal Tunku Ismail Ibni Sultan Ibrahim spotted wearing a Rolex

Crown Prince Tunku Ismail Ibni Sultan Ibrahim of Johor, one of Southeast Asia's most recognisable royal figures, was recently spotted on the wrist with a Rolex GMT-Master II in Everose gold, reference 126715CHNR — a piece that occupies a singular position in Rolex's current catalogue.

The 126715CHNR sits at the pinnacle of the GMT-Master II lineup, built entirely in Rolex's proprietary 18k Everose gold — an alloy engineered with a higher copper content and a trace of platinum to stabilise colour long-term, preventing the pinkish hue from fading under oxidation. The 40mm Oyster case pairs with a matching Jubilee bracelet, itself a technically demanding construction in solid Everose gold. Most striking is the two-tone 'Root Beer' Cerachrom bezel insert: a brown-and-black ceramic combination that took Rolex years of development to perfect, requiring the injection moulding of two differently pigmented ceramic materials in a single piece. The movement inside is Calibre 3285, featuring a Chronergy escapement, 70-hour power reserve, and +/-2 seconds per day precision — among the most refined automatic movements Rolex currently produces.

The Root Beer colourway carries genuine historical weight. Its predecessor, the original GMT-Master ref. 1675 with brown and gold dial and bezel, became a cult favourite among collectors for its warm, understated aesthetic — a marked contrast to the sportier Pepsi and Batman variants. Rolex revived the two-tone bezel concept with the 126711CHNR in steel and Everose, but the all-gold 126715CHNR represents the full-luxury expression of that heritage. Waiting lists at authorised dealers remain lengthy.

Tunku Ismail — widely known as TMJ — maintains a high-profile digital presence and has previously demonstrated an affinity for statement timepieces. As the son of Sultan Ibrahim, who was inaugurated as Malaysia's 17th King in 2024, the Crown Prince's public appearances carry considerable cultural weight across the region.

On the secondary market, the 126715CHNR commands a substantial premium over its already steep retail price. Grey market values have remained firm, driven by persistent scarcity and enduring demand for full-gold Rolex sports references worldwide.