Watch Paparazzi

Singer Queen Latifah spotted wearing Rolex

Queen Latifah was recently spotted on the wrist with one of Rolex's most enduringly desirable references — the Submariner Date 116613LB, the two-tone variant that the collector community has affectionately nicknamed the 'Bluesy.' For a figure who has consistently projected authority and style across a decades-long career, the choice of watch is entirely in character.

The Submariner Date 116613LB pairs an Oystersteel case and bracelet with 18k yellow gold on the bezel, crown, and bracelet center links — the Yellow Rolesor construction that Rolex has refined over generations. The 40mm case houses the calibre 3135 automatic movement, a self-winding workhorse beating at 28,800 vph with approximately 48 hours of power reserve. The blue Cerachrom ceramic bezel insert, introduced with this reference generation in 2008, offers near-scratch-proof durability and UV resistance that older aluminum bezels simply cannot match. The blue sunburst dial features applied hour markers with Chromalight luminescence and the date window at three o'clock with a Cyclops lens.

The 116613LB occupies a particular place in the collector hierarchy. It is simultaneously accessible enough to be a first serious luxury watch and desirable enough that experienced collectors return to it. The Cerachrom bezel upgrade over its predecessor, the 16613, was a significant technical step, and the reference enjoyed a long production run before being succeeded by the 126613LB in 2020 with the updated calibre 3235 and a slightly larger 41mm case. Pre-2020 examples of the 116613LB now carry their own vintage-adjacent appeal.

Queen Latifah's relationship with style has always been deliberate. Since her breakthrough in hip-hop and her subsequent reinvention as an actress and producer, she has cultivated an image that balances power with elegance. A two-tone Submariner — neither full steel nor full gold — mirrors that sensibility precisely.

On the secondary market, the 116613LB trades at a premium over its original retail price, reflecting consistent demand for Submariner references in any configuration. While the newer 126613LB has taken over retail floors, the 116613LB remains a strong performer, with grey market values holding firm well above list.