Watch Paparazzi

Royal Abdul Mateen spotted wearing Rolex

Prince Abdul Mateen — formally known as His Royal Highness Prince Abdul Mateen of Brunei, a son of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah — has built a reputation as one of Southeast Asia's most visible style figures, and his wrist confirms that taste extends to serious horology. The sighting captures him wearing a Rolex Cosmograph Daytona reference 116500LN, the black-bezel variant introduced in 2016 that effectively rewrote the rules for this legendary chronograph.

The 116500LN houses Rolex's calibre 4130, an in-house column-wheel chronograph movement that replaced the previous Zenith El Primero-based calibre 4130 and brought with it a 72-hour power reserve, vertical clutch engagement for cleaner chronograph starts, and a free-sprung Glucydur balance — all contained within a 40mm Oystersteel case rated to 100 metres of water resistance. The Cerachrom bezel in black ceramic is virtually scratch-proof and UV-resistant, a functional upgrade that also gave the watch a sharper, more contemporary silhouette compared to the aluminium bezels of the 116520 generation.

From a collector standpoint, the steel 116500LN occupies a singular position. It sold at or above grey-market premiums from the moment it launched, and waitlists at authorised dealers stretched to years. Rolex's decision to offer it only in stainless steel at launch — no precious metal versions initially — amplified demand among enthusiasts who prize the sporting aesthetic. The black-dial, black-bezel combination worn here is widely considered the cleaner, more modern of the two dial variants.

Prince Mateen is no stranger to high-horology wrist game. The 30-something royal regularly appears at polo events, fashion weeks, and international social circuits, where his watch choices receive genuine scrutiny. Pairing the 116500LN with his profile sends a clear message: this is a watch chosen on merit, not merely as a status symbol, sitting comfortably on a wrist accustomed to the finest available.

On the market, the 116500LN has since been succeeded by the updated 126500LN, which has softened grey premiums on the older reference slightly. Even so, pre-owned 116500LN examples in full set condition regularly trade between $18,000 and $22,000 depending on condition and dial variant, representing a substantial premium over the original retail price.