Watch Paparazzi

Singer Chris Brown spotted wearing Rolex

Chris Brown was recently spotted on the wrist wearing the Rolex Yacht-Master 40 in 18k Everose gold, reference 116655 — one of the more technically and aesthetically distinctive pieces in the current Rolex sports lineup. Brown's choice signals a collector sensibility that goes well beyond default status-symbol picking.

Introduced at Baselworld 2015, the Rolex Yacht-Master 40 ref. 116655 was a landmark release for the manufacturer. It marked the first time Rolex deployed the Oysterflex bracelet — a high-performance black elastomer strap built around a flexible titanium and nickel alloy blade — on a precious-metal case. That combination of 18k Everose gold (Rolex's proprietary rose-gold alloy, engineered to resist fading) and rubber was deliberately provocative: technical and luxurious in equal measure. The 40mm case houses a black Cerachrom insert bezel in ceramic and a matching black dial with applied rhodium-plated hour markers.

The movement inside the 116655 is the caliber 3235, a manufacture movement Rolex introduced progressively from 2015 onward. It beats at 28,800 vph, offers a 70-hour power reserve, and incorporates the Chronergy escapement — a geometry that improves energy efficiency by roughly 15 percent over a traditional Swiss lever. The movement is certified as a Superlative Chronometer, meaning it holds a post-casing accuracy rating of ±2 seconds per day, tighter than COSC standards.

Among collectors, the 116655 occupies an interesting niche. It is not as obsessively hunted as the stainless-steel sport references, but its combination of Everose gold and Oysterflex gives it a modern, resort-ready personality that many all-gold Rolex pieces lack. It has aged well in the secondary market and carries genuine desirability without the artificial scarcity attached to steel Submariners or Daytonas.

Chris Brown has long been documented wearing serious horology, from diamond-set Audemars Piguet Royal Oaks to custom Patek Philippe pieces. The Rolex Yacht-Master 40 ref. 116655 fits his aesthetic — unapologetically luxurious but grounded in genuine technical substance. At a current retail in the mid-to-upper USD range and trading firmly above list on the grey market, it remains a sound and stylish acquisition.