Actor Daniel Dae Kim spotted wearing a Rolex

Korean-American actor Daniel Dae Kim made an appearance at BMO Stadium during LAFC's Korean Heritage Night celebration wearing the Rolex Yacht-Master 42 Ref. 226627 in titanium. The sighting captures one of watchdom's most anticipated releases in recent memory—a titanium sports watch from Rolex that arrived after years of collector speculation and a leaked prototype worn by Olympic sailor Sir Ben Ainslie in 2020.

The Yacht-Master 42 Ref. 226627 houses Rolex's proprietary calibre 3235 automatic movement, a self-winding chronometer-certified mechanism renowned for its Chronergy escapement and 70-hour power reserve. The 42mm case is forged entirely from grade 5 titanium, a material Rolex had never before used in a dive watch, offering exceptional corrosion resistance and a weight savings of approximately 40% compared to stainless steel. The black dial features applied indices and Mercedes-style hour, minute, and second hands finished in white gold. A unidirectional rotatable bezel with 60-minute timing ring, date window at 3 o'clock, and full 300 metres water resistance round out the specification. The bracelet is an Oyster in matching titanium with a Glidelock extension system.

Why collectors regard Ref. 226627 as transformational stems from the Yacht-Master line's evolution from boutique status symbol into legitimate dive chronometer territory. While the 37mm and 40mm Yacht-Masters established heritage and design DNA, the 42mm titanium variant—heavier wrist presence, cutting-edge material, modern calibre—repositions the collection as a competitor to Rolex's own Submariner and Submariner Date. The material choice particularly validates years of forum speculation; titanium had become standard across Omega, Tudor, and independent makers, yet Rolex waited until the technology and market alignment justified entry.

Dae Kim's choice reflects the watch's crossover appeal: simultaneously a legitimate tool for water sports and a statement of contemporary watch taste. The actor was first spotted wearing Rolex sports models during appearances throughout 2023 and 2024, marking a shift toward dive watches among high-profile figures.

Retail pricing for Ref. 226627 holds steady at $14,600 USD, though grey-market examples trade between $16,500 and $19,000 depending on condition and box/papers inclusion. Authorized dealer waitlists remain substantial; secondary-market demand sustains premiums owing to limited annual production and sustained collector appetite for titanium sports Rolex references.