Watch Paparazzi

Rapper Drake spotted wearing Rolex

Drake — real name Aubrey Graham — was recently spotted on the wrist of the moment: the Rolex Daytona reference 116508 in 18k yellow gold, dressed with its distinctive green sunburst dial. The sighting, credited to sharp-eyed spotter Moodynahdi, confirms the Toronto rapper's ongoing preference for statement Rolex pieces that carry genuine horological substance behind their visual weight.

The Daytona 116508 was introduced as part of Rolex's expanded precious-metal Daytona offering and represents one of the most refined executions in the reference's yellow gold catalogue. Its green lacquered dial — applied with 18k gold hour markers and three matching subdials at 3, 6, and 9 o'clock — catches light with a depth that photographs rarely do justice. The case measures the Daytona's canonical 40mm and is paired with an Oyster bracelet with deployant clasp, all in 18k yellow gold. Beneath the sapphire crystal sits the Caliber 4130, Rolex's fully in-house chronograph movement featuring a column-wheel mechanism, vertical clutch, and a COSC-certified 72-hour power reserve — a significant engineering step forward from the older Valjoux-based predecessors.

Among collectors, the green-dial 116508 occupies a specific tier of desirability. It is less ostentatious than the meteorite or gem-set variants, yet more distinctive than the white or black dial equivalents. The combination of yellow gold case and green dial carries an almost vintage sensibility — an aesthetic link to the original Paul Newman-era Daytonas — while remaining entirely modern in movement architecture. Waitlists at authorized dealers have been a fixture since the reference's launch.

Drake's watch collection is well-documented and genuinely sophisticated. From custom Pateks to ice-covered AP Royal Oaks, he gravitates toward pieces with collector credibility, not just retail price tags. The 116508 fits his profile precisely: visually arresting, mechanically serious, and backed by strong secondary-market demand.

On the grey market, the Rolex Daytona 116508 in green dial commands approximately $150,000 — more than three and a half times its official retail price of $40,900. That premium reflects sustained global demand and near-zero authorized dealer availability, cementing its status as one of Rolex's most sought-after steel-free references in current production.