Rapper Drake spotted wearing a Rolex

Drake was photographed courtside at what appears to be an NBA game, his left wrist displaying a substantial all-gold timepiece that reads immediately as serious money rather than mere streetwear accessory. The watch in question is a Rolex Yacht-Master II reference 116688, executed in full 18kt yellow gold — one of the brand's most technically ambitious and visually assertive references of the 2000s.

Introduced in 2007 at Baselworld, the Yacht-Master II represented Rolex's return to genuine complication territory. Its centrepiece is the Ring Command bezel — a bidirectional rotating ceramic bezel mechanically coupled to the in-house Calibre 4161 movement. This coupling allows the wearer to program a regatta countdown of between one and ten minutes, controlled by the pushers at 2 and 4 o'clock. The 44mm case is notably larger than most Rolex sport references, giving the 116688 a presence on the wrist that borders on theatrical. The white lacquer dial carries bold Arabic numerals, a red-tipped regatta hand, and the distinctive subsidiary timing track — functional architecture that reads clearly even at distance.

Reference 116688 occupies a singular position in Rolex collecting. It is the rarest configuration of the Yacht-Master II family: full yellow gold, versus the more common two-tone 116688 predecessor or the stainless steel 116680. Production volumes are comparatively limited, and many buyers acquire it as a statement piece rather than a sailing instrument. The blue Cerachrom bezel, introduced in the 2013 refresh, added collector desirability while maintaining the model's nautical palette.

Drake has long been among hip-hop's most photographed watch collectors, with a collection spanning AP Royal Oak Offshore pieces, Patek Philippe references, and multiple Rolex models. Choosing the Yacht-Master II for a basketball outing signals an appreciation for mechanical substance underneath the gold exterior — this is not a simple dress watch.

At retail the 116688 is positioned among Rolex's premium sport offerings. On the secondary market, all-gold Yacht-Master II examples trade at a premium that reflects both material value and their relative scarcity versus the steel variant.