Royal Abdulaziz Al Rasheed spotted wearing a Rolex

Dr. Abdulaziz Al Rasheed, Saudi royal and increasingly prominent figure in Gulf watch-collecting circles, was recently photographed at what appears to be a Reform Plastic Surgery clinic event, his left wrist adorned with one of Rolex's most technically and aesthetically ambitious Daytona references. The piece in question is the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona ref. 116518LN in 18K yellow gold — a watch that generated considerable excitement when it debuted at Baselworld 2016.

The 116518LN represents a significant evolution in the Daytona family. Its 40mm 18K yellow gold case is paired with a black monobloc Cerachrom ceramic bezel — the first time Rolex combined yellow gold with a black ceramic tachymeter bezel in the Daytona line. The black lacquer dial features three champagne-colored chronograph registers at 3, 6, and 9 o'clock, with gold applied hour markers and matching gold hands. The watch runs on the Calibre 4130, Rolex's in-house chronograph movement featuring a column wheel, vertical clutch, and a COSC-certified 72-hour power reserve — a movement widely regarded among the finest chronograph calibers in production.

The Oysterflex bracelet, also introduced in the 2016 generation of precious-metal Daytonas, is a high-flex black elastomer strap reinforced with a titanium and Nitinol blade core, offering the comfort of rubber with the structural integrity expected of a Rolex bracelet. It replaces the earlier integrated rubber strap and represents a meaningful engineering refinement for a dress-sport crossover piece.

From a collector standpoint, the 116518LN occupies a nuanced position. Yellow gold Daytonas have historically been slower movers than stainless steel references on the secondary market, yet this particular dial configuration — black with champagne registers — consistently commands stronger premiums than its counterparts due to its visual drama and relative scarcity.

At launch, the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona 116518LN carried a retail price of approximately $31,550 USD. On the current grey market, examples trade at roughly $34,000 USD, reflecting healthy but measured demand. For a collector of Dr. Al Rasheed's profile, this is precisely the kind of horologically serious, visually commanding piece that communicates connoisseurship without ostentation.