Designer Jony Ive spotted wearing a Rolex

Jony Ive, the designer whose fingerprints shaped Apple's product language for two decades, appeared at a recent public engagement wearing a stainless steel Rolex Cosmograph Daytona Ref. 116500LN. The watch, visible on his wrist in a light blue shirt, represents one of the most sought-after steel chronographs in contemporary horology—a reference that has remained remarkably consistent in its design since its 2016 introduction.

The Rolex Cosmograph Daytona 116500LN houses the brand's in-house Calibre 4130 chronograph movement, a 40mm oyster case in 904L stainless steel, and a pristine white dial with three black subsidiary registers. The black Cerachrom ceramic bezel, resistant to scratching and UV fading, pairs with a matching three-link oyster bracelet fitted with an oysterclasp. Water resistance reaches 100 metres. This configuration superseded the earlier 116520 (which used an ETA-based movement) and marked Rolex's full vertical integration of chronograph production.

Among steel sports chronographs, the Daytona occupies singular status. Unlike the Submariner or GMT-Master II, which see regular reference updates and material variations, the 116500LN has remained virtually unchanged across nine years of production. This stability has paradoxically increased collector demand; the white-dial version enjoys particular favour among connoisseurs who value the classical racing-watch aesthetic. The black Cerachrom bezel introduced in 2015 eliminated the anodised aluminium insert's susceptibility to fading—a practical refinement that appealed to tool-watch purists.

Ive's choice reflects a designer's sensibility: the Daytona's proportions, legibility hierarchy, and chronograph sub-dial arrangement remain textbook expressions of functional form. The watch's restraint—no complications beyond the three-register chronograph, no date window—aligns with the minimalist philosophy that defined his Apple tenure. Ive's foundation LoveFrom has collaborated across design, technology, and industrial art; his wrist wear mirrors that discipline.

Retail price for the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona 116500LN remains approximately $15,250 USD at authorised dealers, though grey-market and pre-owned examples typically command $18,000–$22,000 depending on condition and provenance. Waitlists at official retailers extend beyond 12 months, cementing the reference as one of modern watchmaking's genuine scarcity stories.