Entrepreneur Jean-Claude Biver spotted wearing a Rolex

Jean-Claude Biver, photographed during an interview showcasing his personal watch collection, is seen holding what is unmistakably a Rolex Cosmograph Daytona Rainbow in Everose gold — one of the most coveted and visually arresting references the Genevan manufacture has ever produced. That a man who has spent decades shaping the competitive landscape of Swiss watchmaking chooses to keep this piece in his collection underscores its status as something beyond a mere flexpiece.

The reference 116595RBOW was introduced by Rolex at Baselworld 2012 and immediately rewrote expectations for what a sport chronograph could be. Built on the 40mm Everose gold case — Rolex's proprietary 18k rose gold alloy formulated for fade resistance — the watch features a bezel set with 36 baguette-cut sapphires arranged in a continuous rainbow gradient, transitioning from violet through blue, green, yellow, orange and red. The lugs are pavé-set with round brilliant diamonds, and the Oyster bracelet links are similarly diamond-set. The chocolate dial hosts baguette-cut gem hour markers and three subsidiary counters in silvered opaline. Powering it is the calibre 4130, Rolex's in-house column-wheel chronograph movement with vertical clutch and approximately 72-hour power reserve.

From a collector standpoint, the 116595RBOW occupies rare territory: a Rolex that simultaneously satisfies the sports-watch purist — it remains a fully functional, COSC-certified chronograph — and the haute joaillerie buyer. Grey-market premiums have been extraordinary since launch, with the piece never reaching retail without years-long waitlists. It is one of very few Rolex references where demand has structurally outpaced even the most optimistic supply projections.

Biver's ownership of this reference is entirely consistent with his persona. As the man who rebuilt Blancpain, transformed Omega, and ran Hublot to global prominence, he has an intimate understanding of what makes a watch commercially and culturally resonant. The Rainbow Daytona is precisely that — a watch that transcends demographic categories and commands attention in any room.

At official retail the 116595RBOW listed at approximately $75,950 USD, though authorised dealer allocation was virtually non-existent. On the secondary market, examples in unworn condition with full set have traded between $150,000 and $200,000 USD in recent years, cementing its position as one of the strongest value-hold propositions in modern Rolex production.