Influencer Vanessa Bryant spotted wearing a Rolex

Vanessa Bryant was recently spotted wearing one of the most visually arresting timepieces Rolex has ever produced — the Daytona ref. 116598 SACO, a watch that stops conversations in rooms where exceptional watches are the norm. It is not a piece that asks for attention quietly.

The Rolex Daytona 116598 SACO is built on the standard 40mm Daytona architecture but departs radically from it in execution. The case is crafted entirely in 18k yellow gold, and the bezel is set with a full pavé arrangement of round brilliant-cut diamonds and vivid blue sapphires, alternating in a pattern that gives the watch an almost jewellery-first identity. The crown jewel, however, is the dial: a so-called 'leopard' dial constructed from multiple precious materials — black onyx for the spotted coat pattern, diamonds for the spots, and mother-of-pearl forming the background — all assembled by hand in Rolex's in-house gem-setting workshops in Geneva. The movement is the calibre 4130, Rolex's own COSC-certified chronograph with a column wheel, vertical clutch, and approximately 72-hour power reserve. The 'SACO' designation in the reference suffix indicates the sapphire and diamond bezel configuration.

From a collector standpoint, the 116598 SACO occupies a specific and highly coveted niche: exotic-dial Daytonas. Rolex has produced a series of these 'zoo dial' variants over the years — leopard, tiger, zebra, panda in the decorative arts sense — and they consistently outperform standard references at auction. The combination of a precious-stone bezel with an animated exotic dial makes the SACO among the rarest configurations in the Daytona family, with limited production numbers keeping secondary market supply extremely tight.

Vanessa Bryant, who has built a substantial profile as an influencer, businesswoman, and philanthropist following the passing of her husband Kobe Bryant in 2020, has long favored high-end jewelry and watches. The 116598 SACO reads as a natural extension of her aesthetic — bold, refined, and uncompromising in quality.

On the secondary market, the Rolex Daytona 116598 SACO commands a significant premium over its already substantial retail price, with grey-market examples regularly trading well above list depending on condition, box, and papers. Demand for exotic-dial Daytonas shows no sign of softening among serious collectors.