Royal Tunku Ismail Ibni Sultan Ibrahim spotted wearing a Rolex

The Crown Prince of Johor, Tunku Ismail Ibni Sultan Ibrahim — known widely as TMJ — was recently spotted on the wrist with one of Rolex's most extravagant Daytona configurations: the reference 116588TBR, executed in 18kt yellow gold and set with a full diamond bezel. For a royal known as much for his directness on social media as for his military rank, the choice of a high-jewellery sports chronograph says something deliberate.

The Rolex Daytona 116588TBR sits at the intersection of the Cosmograph Daytona's motorsport heritage and Rolex's high-jewellery craft division. The reference is built on the calibre 4130, Rolex's in-house automatic chronograph movement introduced in 2000 — a column-wheel, vertical-clutch mechanism offering 72 hours of power reserve and a reputation for exceptional reliability and serviceability. The case measures 40mm in 18kt yellow gold, and the defining feature is the bezel set with 36 trapeze-cut diamonds totalling approximately 2.56 carats. The stones are individually selected and hand-set to Rolex's internal grading standards. The piece ships on Rolex's Oysterflex bracelet, the high-performance elastomer strap introduced in 2015 that pairs the flexibility of rubber with a titanium and nickel alloy internal blade — an unusual but practical choice for a jewellery-grade watch.

Among collectors, the 116588TBR occupies a specific niche. It is not a watch that competes on subtlety. Its appeal is unambiguous luxury within a functional chronograph architecture, and it attracts buyers who want the full Daytona movement story without any apology about the stones. Production volumes are limited by the labour-intensive gem-setting process, which keeps supply consistently tight relative to demand.

TMJ is no stranger to significant timepieces, and his watch appearances are followed closely by enthusiasts across Southeast Asia. His profile — military general, royal heir, and social media presence with millions of followers — gives any sighting considerable reach. The 116588TBR on his wrist is consistent with a collector sensibility that favours bold, high-specification references over understated alternatives.

At UK list price of £79,500, the Rolex Daytona 116588TBR is positioned firmly in Rolex's top tier. On the secondary market, yellow gold diamond-set Daytonas have held value well, with grey-market premiums reflecting persistent demand for precious-metal Daytona references globally.