Watch Paparazzi

Rapper Noyz Narcos spotted wearing Rolex

Roman rapper Noyz Narcos — one of the most influential figures in Italian hip-hop through his work with the Truceboys collective and a string of critically acclaimed solo records — was recently spotted with a Rolex Daytona reference 116520 on his wrist, a steel sports watch that carries considerably more weight than its understated aesthetic might first suggest.

Introduced in 2000, the Rolex Daytona ref. 116520 represented a watershed moment for the manufacture. It was the model that marked Rolex's decisive break from the Zenith-sourced calibre 3030 era, replacing it with the entirely in-house calibre 4130. That self-winding movement features a column wheel, vertical clutch, and a 72-hour power reserve — a significant engineering step that brought Rolex full control over its flagship chronograph. The case measures 40mm in stainless steel, with a bi-directional rotating bezel in either black or white, and pump pushers flanking the crown. The dial layout — three contrasting sub-registers for running seconds, 30-minute and 12-hour counters — is instantly recognisable.

The 116520 ran in production until 2016, when it was replaced by the ceramic-bezel ref. 116500LN. That transition immediately elevated the 116520 to discontinued-reference status, triggering the kind of collector attention that drives grey-market premiums to substantial levels. Among enthusiasts, the steel 116520 occupies a specific niche: it is the last steel Daytona with a metal bezel, giving it a slightly sportier, less formal character compared to its successor. Both black and white dial variants command strong interest, with tropical or gilt dials from earlier production runs fetching exceptional premiums at auction.

Noyz Narcos has long cultivated an image rooted in authenticity and underground credibility, and the 116520 fits that narrative precisely — it is not the flashiest choice on the Rolex menu, but among those who know watches, it signals genuine taste. The model carries no factory diamonds, no complications beyond the chronograph, and no precious metals. Its appeal is entirely dependent on mechanical and historical substance.

On today's grey market, a clean stainless steel Rolex Daytona ref. 116520 in full set typically trades in the $18,000–$22,000 range depending on dial colour, condition, and box-and-papers status — comfortably above the original retail price of roughly $12,400, a testament to enduring demand for one of Rolex's most important modern references.